Authentic Fellowship

I know that this is not the first time or the last time that this topic will appear here at SI. Why? Because it is an essential precept of what a disciple of Christ will do. Fellowship is promised to those who abide in Christ.1John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 1John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Many have discussed at length should we home church, should we mega church, should we not church, and the list goes on, and on, and on. Many speak of being hurt, frustrated, misled, or disillusioned. I myself have struggled in this area of my life for the past two years. Last Sunday it snowed up where we attend church in the mountains, so we decided to attend a church that we almost joined last year. We decided not to join because we live 45 miles away. The church is about 4 years old now and many of the congregation is of college age. Many attend the Master's College whose president is John McAurther (SP)?, a well know preacher out here in California. The other half of the church is of all age groups and background. The church has doubled this past year from around 200 now to 400. The Senior Pastor is in his 30s. I have met with this man and he truly has a heart for the Lord and His people. Last Sunday, we heard Pastor Brian identify that his church is not living, is not seeking to discover authentic biblical fellowship with one another. He normally teaches word by word thru the Scriptures and has spent the last few months teaching up to Genesis 17. Yet, he felt that he could no longer allow "church" to go on as it has. So he has spoken for the last two Sundays about what he sees happening in his own church. Listen to his first of two sermons thus far. He too wants to discover the power behind authentic fellowship which John speaks of in 1 John.http://copperhillchurch.org/sermons/Misc./christian%20community%20part%202.mp3In ChristJeff

I highlighted the 2nd of the two sermons in the first post. This sermon is the first of maybe a 4 part series concerning a church that is presently not seeing the fruits of authentic fellowship.Have you experienced, or have you been convicted by the same problems that this pastor reveals to his congregation?http://copperhillchurch.org/sermons/Misc./fellowship1.mp3In ChristJeff

Love is a symptom of authentic faithRookie, Your post along with Pastor Brian’s message was an answer to prayer. I had just today asked the Lord for more insight into this very topic. Can you believe it, my Bible was already open to John 15 – as if prepared for the message. Pastor Brian expresses his concern about the lack of love in the lives of "Christians", and he gave some hair-raising examples of the sad reality. Then he EXPLAINS love by using several scripture references. If I read 1 John correctly, I’d have to say that the issue is not merely to teach people what love means, but also to challenge people to examine their own standing with God. It seems that before there can be fellowship with one another, fellowship must be restored with God. In fact, perhaps that is the real problem. When people are properly restored to God, then love will automatically flow. Am I correct? Should people not be told that this lack of love is likely an indication that they do not have eternal life? From 1 John2:4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.24Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. 3: 9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

These are very sobering messages. I believe Pastor Brian is about to see revival break out in this congregation.. LOL Greg

roadsign wrote:"It seems that before there can be fellowship with one another, fellowship must be restored with God. In fact, perhaps that is the real problem. When people are properly restored to God, then love will automatically flow. Am I correct? Should people not be told that this lack of love is likely an indication that they do not have eternal life?" So true. Love cannot flow when there is a block in the pipeline called sin. when we are filled with the love of Jesus we will love. Today many call us hateful when we denounce sin. But in reality, the most cruel thing one can do is be silent in the face of sin and allow that person to proceed without any warning. That is not loving at all. Jesus did not live this way and neither did the discilples. Yes, we need to be holy because He is holy without which no man will see the LORD!ginnyrose

Sister Diane wrote:I had just today asked the Lord for more insight into this very topic. Can you believe it, my Bible was already open to John 15 – as if prepared for the message. I have experienced this before on SI. That is, God is working to birth a thought or an understanding. I too, as I read a plea from Brother Mike and the concern for the nature of the fellowship that is occuring here at SI. There is a hinderance to authentic fellowship. It is no coincedence that my family attended this church last week. This topic is true for SI and also for my family's church. Is it not wonderful when God reveals His desires to His people. I have had my Bible opened in like manner at various times as you have witnessed to us today. This is the work of the Holy Spirit sealing us, assuring us that He is at work in our lives. This is truly the substance of life that brings joy of fellowship. It is this joy that brings strength to the fellowship of believers.God BlessIn loveJeff

Sisters wrote: Should people not be told that this lack of love is likely an indication that they do not have eternal life?" So true. Love cannot flow when there is a block in the pipeline called sin.This is so true, this is the core precept of everything that concerns salvation worked out by God in men and women. One must first love God, from that comes the ability or the enabling of one to love another as Christ has loved His church. But how, how are "people properly restored to God?" By what means are we born of God? By what means do we receive the inheritance, the authentic fellowship and its fruits? Pastor Brian has also come to a point where he knows that sin exists in his congregation. We all have witnessed this same stumbling block. We know and profess that everything good must come from God. Nothing good comes from the carnal mind, it is an enemy to God. Yet, we as a people here at SI and in our local congregations and home churches, a spiritual people fall far short of the joy that is spoken of by John in 1 John chapter one. In ChristJeff

Hope this continues to be developed here. Thanks Jeff, and everyone, hope to get a chance to listen to these messages as well.But how, how are "people properly restored to God?" By what means are we born of God? By what means do we receive the inheritance, the authentic fellowship and its fruits?

Another Brother came up to me on Tuesday and told me that he attended the Calvary Chapel Missions Conference two weeks ago. He told me of a movie that starts this Friday in theathers, "End of the Spear." He also shared with me his conversations that he had with various missionaries.He spoke of a number of times where the missionaries pointed him to the book of Jeremiah 1:Jer. 1:7 But the LORD said to me:\t“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’\tFor you shall go to all to whom I send you,\tAnd whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 \tDo not be afraid of their faces,\tFor I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. For him this was the Lord speaking to him about his fear of the people he might someday be called to minister to in Southeast Asia.I say all of this to share this next verse. When Brother Hua pointed to the above verse, my eyes settled on a verse just after this. Jer. 1:9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me:\t“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 \tSee, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,\tTo root out and to pull down,\tTo destroy and to throw down,\tTo build and to plant.” What became significant to me was this notion. God defined Jeremiah's calling in these words. "To root out and to pull down, To build and to plant."I had never thought about this Scripture until now. Now I see based on many of the thoughts that I share here at SI, that most of my time is spent rooting out and pulling down. The thread, "these days are evil" is all about rooting out and pulling down. I also must with all sincerity say, that there is alot of human trash in the thread. Yet, I as a rookie am learning. Something is being birthed in me by God according to the work that He has prepared. But how does this thought coincide with Authentic Fellowship? Again, I do not see very far ahead, but this I know. That much of what causes false fellowship is a result of not understanding how Satan's work permeates the lives of many believers in the church. The first work of God is to root out and pull down, then it will be time "To build and to plant."Think about what Pastor Brian says about how the world sees those who profess to be Christian. What fruit do they see? In ChristJeff

To root out and to pull down,We humans have a great fear of upheavel because it upsets our sense of security (as false as it may be) And so we go around fixing all the fixes that God is trying to break. there is alot of human trash in the thread. Yet, I as a rookie am learning. Something is being birthed in me by God according to the work that He has prepared.In general, we are afraid of "human trash", but I think that we need to get over that. God does not fall over, and we too should learn to accept this as part of the messy process. How can we learn that we are sinnners if we are always trying to squelch the evidence of it. That's like putting a bandaid on a sore because we don't want to face the cancer. When nice manners, - "let's all be nice" is more important than reality, we are moving AWAY from the possiblity of redemption. The verse: "Love covers over a multitude of sins" is not an invitation to denial, but an acceptance of our fallenness. Maybe we have to learn to fellowship together in the "garbage dump" rather than be obsessed about sterility. Diane

Sis wrote:Maybe we have to learn to fellowship together in the "garbage dump" rather than be obsessed about sterility. As one listens to Pastor Brian define through scripture, the different precepts of authentic Christian fellowship, one is convicted of the truth that you have stated above. It is the unwillingness to discover God's ways of learning to love, as He has given us in Scripture, this unwillingness results in sin of unbelief. The Scriptures speak of a treasure that is found in God that exceeds all that man might ever imagine. I see all around me, how the world gives their lives for the treasure that is seen. Yet, the Scriptures promise a treasure that is much more. Yet we are unwilling to allow God to root out and to pull down our gods, or thoughts, our beliefs that prevent us from grasping the promises that are of Him. He has declared the precepts of authentic fellowship, first with Him, and then with one another. Yet we shy away from bringing into the light, the "garbage dump" that is in us. We continually white wash the outside. God's precepts of authentic fellowship amongst the believers is designed to free us from the bondage of self. In ChristJeff

I just want to state that I am convicted by the Scriptures that Pastor Brian has taught on thus far. I am falling way short of the grace that is promised in authentic biblical fellowship. You know, we all complain that today's church pales in light of the example of the Acts 2 church. Yet, we are always deflecting the responsibility to the pastor, the elders, the denomination. Yet, we are really the first one on the list aren't we.In ChristJeff

We attended this fellowship again yesterday. Pastor Brian, knowing me from our search for a new fellowship, mentioned to me that some of you have emailed him during the course of the past two weeks. He was greatly encouraged by your prayers and exhortations. Yesterdays sermon spoke to the heart. The word of God is able to discern the intents of our hearts. The sermon likewise did not tickle the heart. I know your prayers are bringing forth a work in this particular fellowship. Please continue. I have been in Pennsylvania this last week and have not had time to continue in this thread. I am waitning for Pastor Brian to update yesterday's sermon before continuing.God Bless you all who have interceded!In ChristJeff

Please listen to Pastor Brian exhort the congregation to begin to seek to do what Christians are called to do.http://www.copperhillchurch.org/sermons/Misc./christian%20community%20part%203.mp3In ChristJeff

Act 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers I guess that would be a good place to start and to see that worked out in practical application you only need really look a couple of verses latterAll fellowship has its center in proper doctrine, unity and love, and the application of that doctrine in real life , or a practical expression of the Lord Jesus Christ in our daily lives.BTW I love the phrase "simplicity of heart".Act 2:44 And all who believed were together and had all things common. Act 2:45 And they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. Act 2:46 And continuing with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they shared food with gladness and simplicity of heart, Act 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. :-)

Brother Doug wrote:All fellowship has its center in proper doctrine, unity and love, and the application of that doctrine in real life , or a practical expression of the Lord Jesus Christ in our daily lives.Yes, this is the picture that is painted of the Acts 2 church. We have all known this truth. We have all dreamed of this church. Most have become frustrated with the fact that we ourselves have not found this type of fellowship in our midst. Why? Pastor Brian calls it sin. It is our sin. We ourselves fall short. Why don't we live according to the teaching of the NT church? In ChristJeff

Col 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Pastor Brian in his last sermon dwelled upon this Scripture. He asked the congregation, "How many of you are teaching and admonishing one another in the word of God? Is this happening in your local congregations?In ChristJeff

If we are not teaching and admonishing one another in our local congregations, then, using reverse logic, can we assume that the word of God has not become a fountain of living water in our own lives? In ChristJeff

1 Cor 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. Eph. 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph. 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; In these Scriptures, Paul teaches about the unity of the church that is brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit. This unity is not something that comes automatically. Yet the promise is there for those who endeavor, those who submit to what Scripture paints as the manifestation of Christ in the spiritual body of believers. We ourselves lack much of what Scripture paints of the healthy church of Acts 2. Many of the Epistles point to those things which the Apostles recognized as stumbling blocks to the growth of the church in the unity of Christ. We have been given freely of His blood and His Life. We have entered into a spiritual body. Yet we all cry for something greater, we all speak of the Acts 2 church. In our spirit we know that there is more. Pauls solution is that we need to: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Is this the key that opens the door to Christ? In ChristJeff