How do you define fellowship?

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Easyrider

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Matthew 18:20-NLT . . .
Where two or three gather together because
they are mine, I am there among them.

Revelation 3:20-NLT . . .
Here I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear me calling and open the door,
I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.

Paul’s relationship with fellow believers is a beautiful example
of Christian fellowship. He had cared for them and loved them,
even cried over their needs. They responded with love and care
for him and sorrow over his leaving. They had prayed together
and comforted one another. Like Paul, we can build strong
relationships with other Christians by sharing, caring, sorrowing,
rejoicing, and praying with them.
You will gather others around you only by giving yourself away to them!!
 
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EarthMomma

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For me, fellowship is the sweet counsel of others who love the Lord, coming together in His presence.

Fellowship offering (peace offerings) are spoken of often in the Old Testament, and are a special vow to the Lord. (numerous references in Lev, Num, and Deu, as well as Joshua, I and II Sam, I and II Kings, Psalms, Proverbs and the prophetic books). It was fun to review some of these as I pondered your question, but the kind of fellowship that Jesus and his disciples share with us in the New Testament is very endearing.

And by the way, I feel that fellowship every single time I come to the Deeper Fellowship forum, and when I don't come here but pray for the brothers and sisters I've met there. What a divine opportunity for fellowship this is.

David longed for "sweet counsel" of others who loved the Lord and speaks with fond remembrance of those who had turned away. (He had to first restore His fellowship with God.) He remembers the voices of joy and praise of the multitude.

Psalms 42:4 (KJV) When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Psalms 55:14 (KJV) We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

I too love the combined voices of joy in His Word, and songs of praise that inevitably raise when I get together with brothers and sisters in Christ, whether it is in church service, private home prayer and study group, or responding to a friend in need. It is so powerful. You know, Malachi 3:16 says that when those who love the Lord get together and talk, He harkens (an action verb, He does something), He listens in, and He causes the hosts to take notes. If you aren't sure, read this verse in several translations, then look at the Hebrew, and you will envision the power of our fellowshipping together.

Malachi 3:16 (KJV) Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

and in the Message: Malachi 3:16 (MSG) Then those whose lives honored God got together and talked it over. God saw what they were doing and listened in. A book was opened in God's presence and minutes were taken of the meeting, with the names of the God-fearers written down, all the names of those who honored God's name.

We should always be aware that as we fellowship, God is listening in, and acting, to perfect His will through us, not only keeping a journal, but actively listening and taking action.

In Acts 2, we find the fellowship of the believers: They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. v. 42.

Paul reminds us of our call to fellowship with Christ in 1 Corinthians 1:9 (KJV) God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

And Paul blesses the Corinthians with grace, love and fellowship (communion) of the Holy Spirit, reminding us of the spiritual presence during fellowship.

2 Corinthians 13:14 (KJV) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

See also, how fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit enables us to be humble like Christ, Phil 2:1 and understand and share in His sufferings, Phil 3:10.

Fellowship can be sweet counsel, communing, being in the presence of and thereby being lifted up by His presence and His people. By fellowshipping together, we recognize God's grace (and His presence) in others -- "the right hands of fellowship" (see Gal 2:9).

Fellowship always includes God. And fellowship perfects joy in us.

1 John 1:3-4 (KJV) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

We can't fellowship without knowing the truth, walking in the light as He is light. He means for us to fellowship with one another, and I for one am so glad.

1 John 1:6-7 (KJV) 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Don't you just feel the power of fellowshipping in these verses? It's clear that truth, light, and cleansing can come during fellowship with one another. PRAISE THE LORD!! DANCE A JIG!!

In His service and His love,
EarthMomma
 
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EarthMomma

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Matthew 18:20-NLT . . .
Where two or three gather together because
they are mine, I am there among them.

Revelation 3:20-NLT . . .
Here I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear me calling and open the door,
I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.

Paul’s relationship with fellow believers is a beautiful example
of Christian fellowship. . . . by sharing, caring, sorrowing,
rejoicing, and praying with them.
You will gather others around you only by giving yourself away to them!!
Amen! great post, and important reminder about giving yourself away during fellowship (in His presence, dying to self, as we open the door as He would).
 
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