Fellowship Among Believers (Philippians 2:1-4)

Fellowship Among Believers (Philippians 2:1-4)

 

1 그러므로 그리스도 안에 무슨 권면이나 사랑의 무슨 위로나 성령의 무슨 교제나 긍휼이나 자비가 있거든

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

 

2 마음을 같이하여 같은 사랑을 가지고 뜻을 합하며 한마음을 품어

2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

 

3 아무 일에든지 다툼이나 허영으로 하지 말고 오직 겸손한 마음으로 각각 자기보다 남을 낫게 여기고

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

 

4 각각 자기 일을 돌볼뿐더러 또한 각각 다른 사람들의 일을 돌보아 나의 기쁨을 충만하게 하라

4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

 

 

The church is a place of meeting for Christian believers to gather as one entity. There are five core elements that make up a church: worship, mission, education, fellowship, and service work.

 

Despite the fact that fellowship is essential in establishing and maintaining a church, it is often times overlooked in comparison to the other four elements. Its importance is downplayed because believers see fellowship merely as a means of “friendship building” instead of a necessary spiritual activity. Today, we will look at the true meaning of fellowship. With a better understanding, we can build a stronger and more beautiful church.

 

 1. The word “fellowship” in Greek translates to “koinonia.” The word “koinonia” encompasses fellowship/friendship (2 Corinthians 6:14, Galatians 2:9), association/cooperation (1 Corinthians 10:16, Philippians 2:1), and contribution/donation/sharing (2 Corinthians 9:13, Romans 15:26). Fellowship is a combination of friendship, cooperation, and sharing among and with each other.

 

As Jesus told us, loving God and your neighbors is the true form of fellowship. The first churches were even called “the fellowship of believers”.

 

 

A) Why do Christians need fellowship?

 

1. Fellowship is needed for the church to truly be a church.

The relationship between believers is more than that of spiritual neighbors. It is more than physical brotherhood/sisterhood. 1 Corinthians 12:26 tells us that we are all part of the body of Christ; we come together to make up one being. If one part is inflicted with pain, every part suffers with it. If one part is glorified, every part experiences joy. Fellowship builds this relationship and builds the church.

 

2. Fellowship is needed for strength.

While together, believers create one powerful unit, but individually we are weak, thus fellowship is crucial. Weak individuals cannot do much alone, but if they come together, they can do great things.

 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

“9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

 

3. Fellowship is needed for spiritual growth.

You cannot look at yourself objectively alone, but you can through fellowship. Fellowship allows you go get to know others and see their good and lacking qualities. Consequently, you get the chance to reflect on your own self, repenting and changing your faults. As a result, our faith and character matures.

 

Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.“

 

True friends bring each other life, energy, benefits and sometimes even save each other’s life. Some people describe others as their “life mentor.” A “mentor” was originally defined as a “psychological teacher” or “mental teacher”. A good mentor is a good friend.

 

In the Bible, David had Jonathan as a great mentor; Elisha had Elijah; and Paul had Barnabas. A mentor is incredibly valuable. Moses had a wonderful mentor: his father-in-law Jethro.

 

Exodus 18:13-22 tells us:

“13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.”

So, Moses delegated his burdensome work to a select group of wise and capable men and received useful help.

 

B) How should we share in fellowship?

 

1. Share in fellowship by sharing grace.

Romans 1:11 tells us, “11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong…” A believer is someone who has received the grace and gifts of God. Grace comes is many forms and when we share the grace we have received with others grace only grows more abundant along with spiritual abundance.

 

2. Share in fellowship by praying and sharing in prayer.

In Ephesians 1:15-16, we can see that Paul had prayed for the church is Ephesus. “15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

 

He also says in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3:

“2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

He also asks the church to pray for him as well.

Colossians 4:3-4

“3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”

 

Paul also instructs believers to pray for each other and amongst themselves.

 

Ephesians 6:18 – “18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

 

Praying for each other is a form of fellowship between believers.

 

In Acts 12:5-12, when Peter was jailed, the church earnestly prayed for him. Through their prayers, a miracle took place and Peter was able to leave. We as believers share in fellowship by praying for each other in earnest. Through prayer we communicate spiritually.

 

“5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”

 

Are you sharing in fellowship by praying for each other? If not, then you are not abiding by the Bible.

 

3. Share in fellowship by sharing material belongings/substance.

 

Romans 12:13 instructs us to, “[s]hare with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

 

1 Timothy 6:18 tells us to, “…do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” We reach out to the poor, weak, and all those who are in need.

 

Acts 2:44-47 says, “44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who 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.”

 

This is the kind of church our church needs to become.

 

4. Share in fellowship by sharing the joys and sorrows of life.

 

In Matthew 25:31-40, Jesus compares the sheep and the goats:

 

“31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

 

Like this, true believers take part in fellowship with others by listening to each other’s pains, showing concern for each other’s misfortune, empathizing in each other’s sadness, and sharing with each other God’s love.

 

A healthy church has believers who share complete and blessed fellowship. Those live harmoniously with Jesus come together as brothers and sisters sharing the same blood of Christ. They form one body of Jesus and become a church. Let us all work towards building fellowship that is whole and sturdy with each other.