A New Year’s Message For Church Fellowships - 2023 Series

MESSAGE FOR THE NEW YEAR 2023 – REVIEW OF WHAT IS ESSENTIAL

DIFFERING PERSONALITIES IN A CHURCH FELLOWSHIP

We have begun 2023. I don’t believe in new year resolutions, but always we should assess ourselves with the Scriptures as the standard. We have no other benchmark other than the bible, and to follow the philosophy that is in the world, or what the world wants to program for us, is to end in ruin. Above all things we must be in Christ alone.

This also applies to our fellowship, not just here with us, but universally with the fellowship you may be committed to; the state of it, and those entrusted to care for it. We must all be vigilant, for each year, if the Lord tarries, will see an increase in difficulties as Paul explained to Timothy - {{2Timothy 3:1 “Realise this, that in the last days difficult times will come.”}}

There are a number of things that can ruin and cause disharmony in a church fellowship. In this regard it is not unlike any other group, committee, society, dog club or whatever, but the church fellowship ought to be God’s people and therefore it becomes a whole different basis we work on. Sadly not all who are attached to a church are truly numbered among the sheep and some are wild goats who butt the true sheep. Some ruinous points are these:-

1. The embracing of wrong doctrine.

2. Ambitious desires the devil uses.

3. Gossiping about members or climbing over them.

4. Lack of commitment or being casual about the things of the Lord.

5. Personality clashes and problems causing conflicts and division.

6. Wanting to lord it over others as Demetrius wanted to do.

7. Having the wrong people in leadership.

We are now going to take a look at three leaders in the New Testament, of three men who worked together, men of different personalities. The general theme of this message is “DIFFERING PERSONALITIES”. Maybe each of us can identify with some aspects here.

PETER:

For centuries Peter has worn the tag, “Impetuous Peter”. He’d always step up to the front, and would be out there speaking what he thought. Like our modern WYSIWYG – What you see is what you get. You want volunteers? Peter would be there! He would make mistakes, but so too do they who are in forefront where action counts more than consideration. No man is exempt from failure, and being in the front line often is to make yourself an archery target for the great number of critics. Self righteous, attacking critics.

Peter’s character is seen in his ready responses – swiping off Malchus’s ear (John 18:10); in his eagerness to walk to the Lord on the water (Matthew 14:28); so quick to answer the Lord’s question – “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:16); when Jesus revealed He was going to be taken and killed and raised up, Peter jumps in to forbid it as best he can (Matthew 16:22); he burst out on the Mount of transfiguration about making three tabernacles (Matthew 17:4); and the last one: affirmed so strongly in his immediate response that he would not deny His Lord (Matthew 26:33-35).

In a fellowship he could be the one who has the ideas and wants to try something new and unproven and that may cause some to get annoyed with him. Peter’s heart blazed with devotion and loyalty, but may not have been always logical or well-considered.

WHAT WAS THE INNER PETER? WHAT STIRRED THIS SERVANT OF GOD?

As we look at these points, they are ones we must embrace in our churches and they would be a good standard for the new year. Consider them carefully and ask the Lord to help us pursue them –

1. A CALL TO ACTION! {{1Peter 1:13 “Therefore, GIRD your minds for action; KEEP sober in spirit; FIX your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”}}

{{1Peter 1:22-23 “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, FERVENTLY LOVE ONE ANOTHER from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.”}}

2. THE DESIRE FOR THE WORD OF GOD! {{1Peter 2:1:22 “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, LONG FOR THE PURE MILK OF THE WORD, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”}}

3. FEELING AND EMPATHY FOR PERSECUTED SAINTS! {{1Peter 2:20 “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it YOU PATIENTLY ENDURE IT, this finds favour with God.”}}