Joy In Fellowship That Transforms Series

JOY IN FELLOWSHIP THAT TRANSFORMS

THE SECRET TO IGNITING FELLOWSHIP IN THE CHURCH

PHILIPPIANS 1:4-8 ALWAYS OFFERING PRAYER WITH JOY IN MY EVERY PRAYER FOR YOU ALL, 5 IN VIEW OF

YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE GOSPEL FROM THE FIRST DAY UNTIL NOW.6 FOR I AM CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY

THING, THAT HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFECT IT UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS. 7 FOR

IT IS ONLY RIGHT FOR ME TO FEEL THIS WAY ABOUT YOU ALL, BECAUSE I HAVE YOU IN MY HEART, SINCE

BOTH IN MY IMPRISONMENT AND IN THE DEFENSE AND CONFIRMATION OF THE GOSPEL, YOU ALL ARE

PARTAKERS OF GRACE WITH ME. 8 FOR GOD IS MY WITNESS, HOW I LONG FOR YOU ALL WITH THE AFFECTION

OF CHRIST JESUS.

INTRODUCTION: TODAY, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, I WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE

ISSUE OF FELLOWSHIP. THIS GREETING OF PAUL RECORDED IN THE VERSES SERVES AS A VIVID REMINDER OF

THE FELLOWSHIP WE SHOULD ALL HAVE AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST.

CHRISTIANS WERE THE FIRST TO DO AWAY WITH THE COMMON BARRIERS OF THE DAY: RACIAL, WEALTH,

EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, JEWS AND GREEKS, AND GREEKS AND ROMANS.

FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST RALLIED AROUND ONE LORD AND ONE SALVATION. WERE THERE BARRIERS IN

THE EARLY CHURCH? YES, THEY WERE PRESENT. THE EARLY CHURCH CHOSE TO IGNORE THEM. IN THE LIFE

OF THE CHURCH, BARRIERS WERE NOT IMPORTANT!

TRANSITION: THE JOY EXPERIENCED BY THE PHILIPPIAN CHURCH WAS, IN PART BASED ON THEIR EMBRACING

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THEIR ONENESS AS A CHURCH IN CHRIST, THEIR SINCERE WELCOME OF OTHER

BELIEVERS, AND THEIR GENUINE LOVE FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST

PROPOSITION: WE NEED TO REVERSE THE TREND OF JOYLESSNESS IN OUR CHURCHES BY

REDISCOVERING OUR FELLOWSHIP.

WE REVERSE THE TREND BY:

1. PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER

a. TWO ASPECTS TO PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER

i. PRAYING FOR EVERYONE

ii. PRAYING WITH EVERYONE

b. PRAYER IS SIMPLY CONVERSATION WITH GOD

c. PRAYER IS A METHOD OF COMMUNICATING WITH GOD

i. WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE OUR ADORATION OF GOD

ii. WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE OUR AREAS OF WEAKNESS TO GOD

iii. WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE OUR GRATITUDE TO GOD

iv. WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE OUR NEEDS TO GOD

d. UNDERSTANDING THE DYNAMICS OF PRAYER

i. THE NEED FOR PERSONAL PRAYER

1. THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIFE WHEN WE NEED TO CALL OUT TO GOD

2. THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHERE GOD NEEDS TO CALL OUT FOR USMATTHEW 6:6 "BUT YOU, WHEN YOU PRAY, GO INTO YOUR INNER ROOM, CLOSE YOUR DOOR AND PRAY TO

YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN SECRET, AND YOUR FATHER WHO SEES WHAT IS DONE IN SECRET WILL REWARD

YOU.

a. WHEN YOU CALL OUT TO GOD – TIME OF PERSONAL PRAYER

b. GO INTO YOUR ROOM – PLACE OF PERSONAL PRAYER

c. CLOSE THE DOOR – PRIVACY IN PERSONAL PRAYER

d. PRAY TO YOUR FATHER – DIRECTION OF PERSONAL PRAYER

e. GOD WILL REWARD YOU – ANSWER TO PERSONAL PRAYER

ii. THERE IS THE NEED OF CORPORATE PRAYER

1. GOD PROMISES HIS PRESENCE IN CORPORATE PRAYER – WHERE TWO OR THREE

ARE GATHERED TOGETHER, ….

2. CORPORATE PRAYER IS PRAYER WITH POWER

EXODUS 2:23 NOW IT CAME ABOUT IN THE COURSE OF THOSE MANY DAYS THAT THE KING OF EGYPT DIED.

AND THE SONS OF ISRAEL SIGHED BECAUSE OF THE BONDAGE, AND THEY CRIED OUT; AND THEIR CRY FOR

HELP BECAUSE OF THEIR BONDAGE ROSE UP TO GOD.

MATTHEW 18:19 "AGAIN I SAY TO YOU, THAT IF TWO OF YOU AGREE ON EARTH ABOUT ANYTHING THAT

THEY MAY ASK, IT SHALL BE DONE FOR THEM BY MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.

3. GOD ANSWERS CORPORATE PRAYER

ACTS 12:5 SO PETER WAS KEPT IN THE PRISON, BUT PRAYER FOR HIM WAS BEING MADE FERVENTLY BY THE

CHURCH TO GOD.

ACTS 12:7 AND BEHOLD, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD SUDDENLY APPEARED AND A LIGHT SHONE IN THE CELL;

AND HE STRUCK PETER'S SIDE AND WOKE HIM UP, SAYING, "GET UP QUICKLY." AND HIS CHAINS FELL OFF HIS

HANDS.

ACTS 12:11 WHEN PETER CAME TO HIMSELF, HE SAID, "NOW I KNOW FOR SURE THAT THE LORD HAS SENT

FORTH HIS ANGEL AND RESCUED ME FROM THE HAND OF HEROD AND FROM ALL THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE

WERE EXPECTING."

4. IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE HAVE CORPORATE PRAYER

ISAIAH 56:7 EVEN THOSE I WILL BRING TO MY HOLY MOUNTAIN AND MAKE THEM JOYFUL IN MY HOUSE OF

PRAYER. THEIR BURNT OFFERINGS AND THEIR SACRIFICES WILL BE ACCEPTABLE ON MY ALTAR; FOR MY

HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE PEOPLES."

MATTHEW 21:13 AND HE *SAID TO THEM, "IT IS WRITTEN, 'MYHOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER';

BUT YOU ARE MAKING IT A ROBBERS' DEN."