KOINONIA: The Fellowship Factor
"So those who accepted what he said were immersed, and there were added to the group that day about three thousand people.
They continued faithfully in the teaching of the emissaries, in fellowship, in breaking bread and in the prayers.
Everyone was filled with awe, and many miracles and signs took place through the emissaries.
All those trusting in Yeshua stayed together and had everything in common;
in fact, they sold their property and possessions and distributed the proceeds to all who were in need.
Continuing faithfully and with singleness of purpose to meet in the Temple courts daily, and breaking bread in their several homes, they shared their food in joy and simplicity of heart,
praising God and having the respect of all the people. And day after day the Lord kept adding to them those who were being saved."
(Acts 2:41-47, The Jewish Bible)
What's so important about FELLOWSHIP? It would seem, based on the way we live our lives in this 21st century, that fellowship is not necessary, at all. It isn't a priority in most of our lives, as we go about our business and daily activities--there just isn't time for fellowship. We give attention to the things that are important to us, and fellowship just doesn't seem to be high on our list of priorities. We attend church, work, go to school, keep appointments, etc., but much of that is done separate from the fellowship of others. How is that possible? We are around people, everyday, yet there is no sharing or bond with many of the people that we interact with on a daily basis. What is even more devastating is that, even in church, fellowship is lacking. We worship on Sunday morning and perhaps, even attend services throughout the week, but is there true, New Testament, fellowship?
Fellowship involves more than sitting in the same edifice, worshipping God, at the same time. Doing something in one place, at the same time, is not necessarily, togetherness or fellowship. I can be next to you (in proximity) and never "touch" you, literally or figuratively. Isn't that what is happening with most of us? We are close (as in proximity), but we don't REALLY "touch" one another. Now, we have our natural family's, and many of us probably rely on them for that "touch". There is, though, a necessity that we begin to reach outside of ourselves, and our natural family's, and become a true part of the family of God. We are to be involved in each other's lives, to the point that, when you feel pain, I feel pain; likewise, when you rejoice, I rejoice, too. That's how connected we should be.
We should be experiencing such close communion with one another that, we draw people, to us. It isn't, or shouldn't be, our music, our preaching, our programs that draw people into our midst (those things don't keep people--they can be found elsewhere). It is our love, "one to another" that draws men to God. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (St. John 13:34,35 NKJV). Now, we can't literally see "love"; what we see is what love does, how love behaves and interacts. Fellowship is wrapped up in love. People have an innate need for fellowship--we were made this way. The world seeks fellowship--will they find it, among us?
"Koinonia" means we have a partnership, not only with God, but with one another. We don't have casual relationship with each other--but are "partners" who participate and commune with one another. This is our survival technique. "But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:15,16) We are to be joined and knit together, to be effective in the Kingdom. Joints (in the human body) occur where two bones meet. They make the skeleton flexible — without them, movement would be impossible. There are different types of joints in our bodies, having different purposes, but they are all important for the working of the body. In order for us to function, we need to be operating, like the example of our joints in the body, given by Paul. Joints don't work, if they are separated from each other. However, together (properly working), joints enable us to move and function.
New Testament Christianity works. We must adopt the model, though. We have to become lovers one of another--caring, sharing, and bearing each other's burdens, not grudgingly, but always, in love. Your feelings, ideas, dreams and struggles have to matter, to me, because they are apart of who you are. I don't have to understand or even agree, but I am obligated to empathize and support. Sometimes, supporting each other means rebuke or correction, too--but, must always be done in love with the other's best interest at heart. It is never self-seeking or vengeful.
Most of us, don't know what is going on in the lives of our brothers and sisters. In some cases, that might be best--because all of us haven't learned not to gossip, embellish, spread rumors and just be quiet and prayerful. We have to become trustworthy, honest, kind and genuine if fellowship is to flourish among us.
We are in a real war. It is do or die. If we continue to be separate from one another, we will die. We must be connected, in this battle, to win. We have everything that we need to win the battle--we have to utilize the weapons.
Get Connected and Stay Connected!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Love & Abundant Blessings,
Lisa
They continued faithfully in the teaching of the emissaries, in fellowship, in breaking bread and in the prayers.
Everyone was filled with awe, and many miracles and signs took place through the emissaries.
All those trusting in Yeshua stayed together and had everything in common;
in fact, they sold their property and possessions and distributed the proceeds to all who were in need.
Continuing faithfully and with singleness of purpose to meet in the Temple courts daily, and breaking bread in their several homes, they shared their food in joy and simplicity of heart,
praising God and having the respect of all the people. And day after day the Lord kept adding to them those who were being saved."
(Acts 2:41-47, The Jewish Bible)
What's so important about FELLOWSHIP? It would seem, based on the way we live our lives in this 21st century, that fellowship is not necessary, at all. It isn't a priority in most of our lives, as we go about our business and daily activities--there just isn't time for fellowship. We give attention to the things that are important to us, and fellowship just doesn't seem to be high on our list of priorities. We attend church, work, go to school, keep appointments, etc., but much of that is done separate from the fellowship of others. How is that possible? We are around people, everyday, yet there is no sharing or bond with many of the people that we interact with on a daily basis. What is even more devastating is that, even in church, fellowship is lacking. We worship on Sunday morning and perhaps, even attend services throughout the week, but is there true, New Testament, fellowship?
Fellowship involves more than sitting in the same edifice, worshipping God, at the same time. Doing something in one place, at the same time, is not necessarily, togetherness or fellowship. I can be next to you (in proximity) and never "touch" you, literally or figuratively. Isn't that what is happening with most of us? We are close (as in proximity), but we don't REALLY "touch" one another. Now, we have our natural family's, and many of us probably rely on them for that "touch". There is, though, a necessity that we begin to reach outside of ourselves, and our natural family's, and become a true part of the family of God. We are to be involved in each other's lives, to the point that, when you feel pain, I feel pain; likewise, when you rejoice, I rejoice, too. That's how connected we should be.
We should be experiencing such close communion with one another that, we draw people, to us. It isn't, or shouldn't be, our music, our preaching, our programs that draw people into our midst (those things don't keep people--they can be found elsewhere). It is our love, "one to another" that draws men to God. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (St. John 13:34,35 NKJV). Now, we can't literally see "love"; what we see is what love does, how love behaves and interacts. Fellowship is wrapped up in love. People have an innate need for fellowship--we were made this way. The world seeks fellowship--will they find it, among us?
"Koinonia" means we have a partnership, not only with God, but with one another. We don't have casual relationship with each other--but are "partners" who participate and commune with one another. This is our survival technique. "But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:15,16) We are to be joined and knit together, to be effective in the Kingdom. Joints (in the human body) occur where two bones meet. They make the skeleton flexible — without them, movement would be impossible. There are different types of joints in our bodies, having different purposes, but they are all important for the working of the body. In order for us to function, we need to be operating, like the example of our joints in the body, given by Paul. Joints don't work, if they are separated from each other. However, together (properly working), joints enable us to move and function.
New Testament Christianity works. We must adopt the model, though. We have to become lovers one of another--caring, sharing, and bearing each other's burdens, not grudgingly, but always, in love. Your feelings, ideas, dreams and struggles have to matter, to me, because they are apart of who you are. I don't have to understand or even agree, but I am obligated to empathize and support. Sometimes, supporting each other means rebuke or correction, too--but, must always be done in love with the other's best interest at heart. It is never self-seeking or vengeful.
Most of us, don't know what is going on in the lives of our brothers and sisters. In some cases, that might be best--because all of us haven't learned not to gossip, embellish, spread rumors and just be quiet and prayerful. We have to become trustworthy, honest, kind and genuine if fellowship is to flourish among us.
We are in a real war. It is do or die. If we continue to be separate from one another, we will die. We must be connected, in this battle, to win. We have everything that we need to win the battle--we have to utilize the weapons.
Get Connected and Stay Connected!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Love & Abundant Blessings,
Lisa
Comments
Post a Comment