Purpose of Fellowship

  1. It is not good to be alone.
    The Lord did not intend for man to be alone.

    Genesis 2:18: “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”

  2. The Lord wants people to attend church.

    Hebrews 10:25: “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.”

  3. Evangelism by two people
    Men try not to go soul winning alone. That way, one person can pray while the other witnesses. It also enables one person to cover the other’s back when problems or interruptions arise.

    Mark 6:7: “And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;”

Basis of Fellowship

  1. Men have fellowship with the Lord and brethren.

    1 John 1:3: “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.”
    1 John 1:7: “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.”

  2. Fellowship can break because of one’s failed spiritual walk with God.

    1 John 1:6-7: “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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.”

    If one feels like God has not been hearing or answering his prayers, it may be due to the people he is hanging around.

    Isaiah 59:2: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

  3. Men can restore fellowship with God by confessing their sins to Him and pleading with the blood of Jesus Christ to wash it away.

    1 John 1:7: “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.”
    1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Results of Fellowship

  1. Men learn to suffer together.

    Philippians 3:10: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

  2. Men learn to serve God together.

    Colossians 4:7: “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:”

  3. Men learn to comfort one another.

    1 Thessalonians 4:18: “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

  4. Men learn to pray for one another.

    1 Thessalonians 5:25: “Brethren, pray for us.”

  5. Men learn to bear one another’s burdens.

    Galatians 6:2: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

  6. Men learn to rejoice with those who are joyful.

    Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

  7. Men learn to encourage one another.

    Hebrews 10:25: “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.”

From Whom Do We Separate

  1. Lost sinners
    Unbelievers will wrongly influence others. They will remind others of their lost days, how they lived in sin, the music, dressing, conversation, drinks, etc.

    2 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?”

  2. Wicked Christians

    1 Corinthians 5:11: “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”

  3. Teachers of the wrong doctrine

    Romans 16:17: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

    One can lose a full reward if he compromises with the wrong doctrine.

    2 John 8-11: “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

Limits of Separation

  1. Bad influences (When to draw the line and separate)
    People one hangs around with will influence him unconsciously.

    1 Corinthians 15:33: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
    Proverbs 13:20: “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”
    1 Corinthians 5:6-7: “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:”
    1 Corinthians 5:11: “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”

  2. Men cannot separate from everything in the world, but they are not supposed to be of the world.

    John 17:11: “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”
    John 17:14: “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
    1 John 2:15-16: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

    Anything that is of the world that has sinful influence has to be separated.

    1 John 2:15-16: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

    What all is in the world:
    – The lust of the flesh
    – The lust of the eyes
    – The pride of life

  3. To lead them to salvation (When is it okay to hang around unsaved people)
    Publicans and sinners

    Matthew 9:10-13: “And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

    Pharisees (wrong doctrine)

    Luke 7:36: “And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.”

  4. Believers can have a fellowship with them as long as it does not neglect the glory of God.

    1 Corinthians 10:27: “If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.”
    1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

  5. Believers should stand united despite differences in churches.
    There are differences even among Bible-believing pastors.

    1 Corinthians 1:10-13: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”

    If they walk disorderly among believers (a preacher/ministry that does not walk the same way believers do), Paul says that since the believers are an example to other people, for that sake, they should avoid that brother. However, believers are still to count him as a brother and not an enemy.

    2 Thessalonians 3:6-9: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.”
    2 Thessalonians 3:14-15: “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

    Men cannot walk together when there is a doctrinal disagreement.

    Amos 3:3: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”