Beware of “Christian” Fellowship

Warming a pew, or even a pulpit every Sunday and Wednesday does not make one a Christian

I know what this brother is talking about is truth. I have dealt with this in my own life and walk with the Lord. Someone said to me a few years ago…“You have isolated yourself”. That wasn’t exactly true because what I had done in obedience to the Lord, was leave an apostate church, along with the horrible sins I saw being committed there, all the while they were proclaiming this was a bible believing “spirit filled church”. When I left, I also left all my “Christian” friends whom I had previously fellow-shipped with. I found myself in a peculiar situation. I was now caught between two worlds, neither one of which I could return to without being disobedient to my Lord and Savior;  which was the apostate “church world” and it’s fellowship, and the world and it’s fellowship of sin and so-called pleasure. Frankly, neither one had any appeal to me any longer.

So, I found myself alone. Or was I? Of course not, the Lord Jesus was with me, as He promised….that He would never leave me or forsake me. But what kind of a test was this I wondered? I’ve finally come to the conclusion that this was indeed a test…and the situation I was in, without TRUE and obedient Christian friends. Would I turn back to compromise with sinful “Christians”, or would I turn back to the friendship of the world? Of course, I could do neither one and still be obedient to the Lord Jesus. And…I had no desire to go back anyway. The love of Christ constrained me. I just wanted the Lord Jesus, and He was more than enough to fill my heart and spirit with His love and fellowship.His Grace was more than sufficient in more ways than one.

Even though this has become, in one sense, a very “isolated” life, as far as fellowship and “friends” are concerned, I have found much peace and joy in the solitude the Lord has given me to fellowship with Him. In fact, I have become rather jealous and protective of that time. Maybe He is jealous of me as well, and wants me just for Himself without sharing with other lovers? I have found that like a jealous husband,  He allows me to welcome and minister to others only when He opens the door of opportunity, sends out an invitation… and only then.

We are to desire True Christian fellowship, but what if it’s just not available? We can’t be friends with the world or worldly Christians and that’s just the way it is. The Lord Jesus will fill every need in His own way and His own time. Trust Him and don’t try to run ahead, and expect Him to add His signature to what you want. He has a purpose in whatever situation you may find yourself.

Although the “church” folk around claim I am back-slidding  because I disobeyed the commandment of Hebrews 10:25 which to them means that you have to be present every time there is a church service.

 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.” Hebrews 10:25

This is nonsense if the “church service” amounts to allowing sin and sinful Christians to freely operate with impunity and not even a raised eyebrow because they all think they’re in obedience. Crazy? Yes, because the Lord Jesus has plainly told us in the scriptures NOT to fellowship with “Christians” operating openly, (or even covertly), in sin:

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13But those who are outside, God judges. Remove that wicked man from among yourselves. 1Cor5

So, were these “Christians” that I left behind removing any wicked people from their assembly, or even addressing their own sinful disobedience? No, in fact, they were embracing it!

If we are to be truly obedient to the Lord Jesus, we are going to have to make some sacrifices and possibly to suffer for it. but we must take up our own crosses, whatever they may be to follow the Lamb…because He’s Worth it, whatever the cost, and it may cost you everything you once held dear.

“Do not be like those who fall for the Christian fellowship trap. They are under the impression and teaching that you must have fellowship otherwise you are not a true Christian. The problem is when people think they must have fellowship and seek fellowship they end up getting with the wrong people. They start listening to man and not to God and Satan uses those around them to distract them to cause them to stumble. To take their eyes off Jesus Christ. You see we do not need fellowship to enter the kingdom. We need fellowship WITH JESUS CHRIST. That is who we need fellowship with. If you do not have fellowship with Jesus Christ and you die, your name will not be found written in the lambs book of life. He only writes names in that book, of those who abide in him, they have fellowship with him and he has fellowship with them. When we have fellowship with Jesus, his blood cleanses us from all sin because we are walking in oneness and unity with Jesus Christ.

But the problem with many Christians today, is that they seek fellowship, but those of whom they seek fellowship with, are living in sin and they condone sin and so they fellowship with those who are workers of darkness and this fellowship destroys the faith of many. It is written not to associate with those who profess Christ but live in sin. So when you go along to your church and there is all these people interested in the latest sport news, then you know that there is no fellowship there for you unless you want to break the rules and start having fellowship with darkness. The road of a disciples is a lonely road. You are not going to meet many people who put Jesus first and who are only interested in what Jesus wants them to do. You are going to meet them here and there and then you will have fellowship, but you will not find much fellowship because for instance the early disciples like Paul and Peter spent a lot of time alone or with one or two other brothers.

They got the gospel from Christ from fellowship WITH Christ. Paul spent a lot of time alone in the desert getting to know Jesus. A lot of the time he suffered alone, and the died alone. Paul wrote not to forsake gathering with those of the true faith, that is true, but the problem is with this day and age is that people don’t want to have fellowship with Jesus. They seek fellowship with man and that is why they start getting disappointed because they start listening to man and then man lets them down and they start to blame God because of man’s failure and they end up in the darkness, because they allowed themselves to be ruined by all this fellowship. What fellowship do you have today?

There is only one fellowship that counts and that is getting your relationship sorted out and straightened out with Lord Jesus Christ. If you don’t get that fellowship straightened out, you will not be able to benefit anyone who is in need of Jesus. And when you do walk with the Lord, he will help you to provide the right kind of fellowship that leads people to be disciples of Jesus. Not just fellowships of friends where you just waste time and start sinning with your words and start being foolish in the world. That is the unfortunate situation in many churches. Seek the right fellowship before it is too late. Jesus bless you.”.My site at http://www.robertlyte.yolasite.com

True Fellowship Founded in Love by the Holy Spirit

I have been thinking lately of the fellowship the early Christians must have enjoyed as they met together from house to house, and what it must have been like.

I can imagine the families bringing a dish of food or a good loaf of bread the women had lovingly kneaded and baked to share with their brethren. Perhaps there might have been something from their garden, cooling fresh cucumbers fixed with garlic, herbs and oil. If it were summer, there might have been a selection of summer fruits. Or, instead, since times were hard for some, there may have been only enough loaves or a few fish to share between them. But as when Jesus had multiplied the loaves and fishes, they would be filled as they shared, since they had gathered first of all, to feast upon the Bread of Life came down from heaven amongst them, and within them, each and every saint filled with the manifest presence of the Son of God through His Holy Spirit.

What eagerness and joy must have been in their hearts as they prepared this love feast and looked forward to the gathering where they were meeting together to share the love they had in their hearts for one another, and their Lord Jesus Christ.

I can imagine the love flowing like pure oil as they greeted one another, and began sharing holy conversation as they assembled.The women would have prepared the table and set out the food, then one of the brothers would have thanked God for their food, and asked Him to bless it before they began eating in the customary style.

What may have occurred after that, it seems, would have been the Holy Spirit moving among the saints in the ordained fashion as He alone gave unction according to each ones obedience; as the scripture indicates in 1 Cor…

26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

Of course none of us were there, so we can only surmise what the early saints gatherings were like for sure. We can only look through the glass darkly according to what the scriptures say. But how many of our own assemblies even vaguely resemble such a glorious and spiritfilled time of gathering in such pure harmony and under the power and unction of the Holy Spirit, who, in His wisdom would have already prepared each one specifically to participate in the true Body Life Christ intended.

Friends, this is so very simple.The Lord hasn’t made it complicated to assemble together in such fashion. It simply takes obedience and love…even as the Apostle Paul admonishes in the beginning of this chapter, to persue LOVE.

Yet, since the beginning of the primitive church, this simple, loving practice has been corrupted, and nearly obliterated from our gatherings. And why? Who gave man the right to tamper with the way the Lord set up, and ordained the way his people were to participate in their assemblies? No one. But in doing so, man has taken away the right of each saint to participate in pure and Holy Body Life, and handed it over to hirelings who attempt to interpret what the Spirit is saying to the assembly. I can only say hirelings, because they have usurped the authority of the Holy Spirit in their meetings. In essence they are Nicolaitans, who practice the doctrines and deeds of the Nicolaitans, who’s activities the Lord Jesus said he hated.

These things should not be so. They can and should be repented of, and not participated in. We can correct ourselves and return to the simplicity that is in Christ, by simply obeying what the scriptures plainly show us.

Even in this hour, with a “church” on every corner, and the feeling of being caught in between the world, and it’s evils, and the unscriptual organized mainstream churches, we can still pray for, and seek out other believers who believe the way the Lord set up his Body in the beginning is the most perfect and blessed way to assemble. God will provide that way. He will provide that fellowship. Simply believe and have faith in God. Be patient, and wait upon the Lord, and He will provide in due time if you are willing and obedient, and not willing to “settle” for cheap, counterfeit substitutes, but desire the authentic fellowship the Lord wants us all to have.

Many beloved saints have done the best they could with what they had in hand, in between these two worlds, to provide such fellowship via the Internet. God bless them. I fully understand we are living in different times; perilous times indeed. A scattered people, and this makes it doubly difficult to meet in a perfect setting, as did the early saints. Yet, I believe with all my heart, that God will fill the void; He will provide that ingathering and fellowship in due time, as we continue to seek His face, and cry out to Him.

In the meantime, if need be we must wait…let us love one another as unto the Lord. Always

As a new believer, I was blessed to be able to be a part of such an authentic fellowship in my home, 5 days a week. It was just as described in the scriptures. Those of us who were so blessed in this assembly had no real part of making it, or forcing it to happen….it just happened out of our love for the Lord and the desire to be together and share in a most natural way. It was holy and beautiful. It was of the Lord. And once you have tasted it, you will never be satisfied with anything less.

May Grace and Peace be Multiplied to each of you,

Scarlett