Fellowshipping together - an outflow of love

1John 1:7 “ But if ye 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.”

1John 2:10”He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion for stumbling in him.” 

Heb. 10:24 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”

There is something that is inextricably linked to loving our brother and sister with the love of God. It is fellowshipping with our brother and sister.

“If we want to deal with God the right way we have to learn to love the right way. If we want to love the right way, we have to

deal with God the right way. God and love can’t be separated! “[Introduction to epistles of John in the message bible]

The reason God and love cannot be separated is because God is Love. Let me rephrase that: God and loving our brother cannot be separated. Therefore loving our brother and fellowshipping with them cannot be separated. Therefore when we run away from fellowshipping it means

i.               We are in darkness or darkness is in us

ii.              Our love is not complete.

“But if we walk in the light (love), we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin”.

“But if we [really] are living and walking in the light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestation”. (Amp)

Fellowship with God exhibits and proves itself by fellowship with other brethren. We are made to relate not only to God but also to others. “It is not good for the man to be alone…” ……..So God created man in His
own image… male and female he created them “(Gen2:18; 1:27).

Created in God’s image-Humanity is called to reflect that image through male and female. Though this refers to the institution of marriage but the larger picture is that within the God-given joy of being unique individuals we can know what it is to be a true human being only in relation to others. Our relationships with our fellow human beings as well as with God have helped to make us who we are. “Those who do not feel they belong have no clear sense of identity”. (Selwyn Hughes EDN Jan/Feb 2011).  This is more so in the church.

“Those who do not have a church family they belong to are orphans “(Rick Warren); Mark 3:32 – 35.

“…Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee….Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister and mother.’

•                Fellowship is what God uses to cleanse us from the sin nature – make us better and more complete believers

•                Fellowship gives us a clear sense of identity of belonging

•                Fellowship makes us alive in the spirit 1Jn3:23 -24; 4:12-13

•                When we are absent from fellowship we have the opportunity for love to be perfected in us. Heb. 10: 24,25

•                When we are absent from fellowship , we lose the opportunity for the outflow of good works

•                Togetherness in fellowship is the place of the anointing and the release of commanded blessing. Ps.133 where blessings are bestowed or given.