Oneness #9

Fellowship

 Sunday evening  August 21, 1994

 Brian Kocourek

 

PHILIPPIANS.1:3

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

 

For your fellowship in the Gospel: Why did he pray for their fellowship in the Gospel? What is so important about fellowship?

 

KOINONIA: A communion, fellowship, a sharing in common,         communication, and that which is the outcome of fellowship which is a contribution.

 

Fellowship comes by one avenue and that is the Word of God, unbroken.

 

There are various types of fellowship :

 

Fellowship of the Spirit and of Love  PHIL 2:1

 

The fellowship of His sufferings  PHIL 3:10

 

The fellowship of the mystery of Christ  Eph 3: 9

 

I.JOHN.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, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifest­ed, and we have seen [it], and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 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. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto 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 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.

 

36 ONENESS -- JEFF.IN -- V-10 N-2 -- 62-0211

  Now, the first human beings dis-fellowshipped themself from believing God, by disbelieving His Word and listening to a lie of the Devil. Now, that's the first thing that dis-fellowshipped this wonderful union. Now look, Adam and Eve in a position to never die, in a position to never be old, to never be sick, to never have a worry.  You say, "I sure wish I could be like that." Let me... I got news for you, you are in the same position. God places that to every creature on the earth, in the same position.

 

 

 

Fellowship

 Sunday evening  August 21, 1994

 Page 2

 

38 ONENESS -- JEFF.IN -- V-10 N-2 -- 62-0211

 " What was the agreement? "If you'll keep my Words! If, My Word, if you'll keep It, believe It and act upon It!" But the very first time that Eve disbelieved, took one Word away from what God said, it broke off fellowship with that great union. And the minute that the church disbelieves any one Word of God's Bible, and places It somewhere else, then they break off that wonderful fellowship that's offered to them, and to be separated. " " As soon as she did that, death set in her mortal being. Not only her mortal, but her spiritual being. She broke off relation­ship with God, the minute she disbelieved. And no man can be­lieve... Here it is! No man, no woman can--can believe the Dev­il's lie until they have disbelieved God's Truth. No one can believe the Devil's lie until they have disbelieved God's Truth. So, you see, Eve, Adam, where it places us this morning."

 

EPHESIANS.5:6

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were some­times darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is accept­able unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them]. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

 

We see then that by believing the same thing actually brings us into common ground, and that is the Land of Promise which is Christ. So then if to believe the same Gospel brings us together, then to disbelief the same Word brings separation. In fact the scripture says that very thing.

 

II.CORINTHIANS.6:14

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord     Almighty. 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

So we see that we are to be gathered together, but not just for gathering sakes.

 

MAL 3: 16 - 18  (read)

 

 

 

 

Fellowship

 Sunday evening  August 21, 1994

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II.THESSALONIANS.2:1

" Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him, "

 

MATTHEW.3:11

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire: 12 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

 

EPH 1: 10    MATT 24:31  MARK 13:27   LUKE 3:17

 

We see the early apostles coming together in this atmosphere of sharing out of necessity.

                          

ACTS.2:41

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' (1) doctrine and (2) fellowship, and in (3) breaking of bread, and in (4) prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all [men], as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

The more they sought the power of God, the more they assembled for fellowship around the doctrine. The more they assembled around the Word the more power of God began to dsiplay itself among them.

 

1 COR 1: 4- 10  ESP. (9)

 

HEBREWS.10:22

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of our­selves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fellowship

 Sunday evening  August 21, 1994

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39 ONENESS -- JEFF.IN -- V-10 N-2 -- 62-0211

  Now let's think seriously, because we never be able to think anymore after this, after this mortal life is over. Your thinking is now. You cannot choose after this, you must choose now, for this is the day of choosing, making your choice. Now she, one Word, not a whole Decalogue, just one Word, she questioned God because it was presented to her in that light that that Word was questionable. God's Word cannot be questioned, He meant just what He said. But she questioned It because it was presented to her, "Oh, God surely didn't mean that." But He did mean that! God means every Word He says. And It doesn't need any private inter­pretation. It's just the way He said It.

 

40 ONENESS -- JEFF.IN -- V-10 N-2 -- 62-0211

  Well, you say, "How do you know about the Bible?" I believe that my God has guided this Bible, He watches over His Word. He knowed that atheists and infidels would rise in the last days, so He's watched over It. This is exactly the way God meant It. It's the way It's to us now. Now we must believe It. One Word off of It, and we lose our fellowship, go off into--to death, Eternal separation from God, just as Adam and Eve did. We must believe God's Truth.              2 Thes 1: 7, then 8 - 9 these fall away, but the rest go on to Glory. vs 10 -12

 

41 ONENESS -- JEFF.IN -- V-10 N-2 -- 62-0211

  Let me make that again. Do not disbelieve any Word of God's Bible. But just don't say, "Yes, I believe It." Say "but?" No, there's nothing about that. You believe It, you'll accept it. If you lay It aside, say, "Well, my church don't believe It that way," then you do not believe It's God's Word, and you'll walk away under the same condemnation that Eve went away under. You separated yourself from the Eternal when you had a chance to be united with Him. Now, remember, That cannot be questioned, be­cause It was one Word, that, in God's Word.

 

42 ONENESS -- JEFF.IN -- V-10 N-2 -- 62-0211

  And, now, if God had just a--a few Words there that people must obey, and in them few Words one of them was misrepresented, caused death, look at the Words we got today! See? We must re... receive every one of them, hold onto them and enter into them as promises from God. And a true wife of God will do that, true engaged espoused-one. Now, I hope these little things go down deep now so we can catch them.

 

43 ONENESS -- JEFF.IN -- V-10 N-2 -- 62-0211

  What was the first thing that caused Eve to disbelieve God's Word? It was because Satan promised her more wisdom, "You will be wise." Now, you see, the human race is always reaching after something. And Eve was reaching after more wisdom.

 

44 ONENESS -- JEFF.IN -- V-10 N-2 -- 62-0211 

 Now let's stop just one minute. Isn't that the condition of the world today? They want more wisdom, better class, higher educated, wanting something that's different, more wisdom. That's what Eve wanted. But let me say this also, that there is no wisdom can surpass God's, yet It--It's in such a humble form that people miss It.