Joy In Fellowship

We Are Made For Companionship

An American missionary was traveling across Korea by train. At a busy station an old man boarded and sat across from Him. The man was Korean and he addressed the American in his native tongue.

- The Missionary responded in the only Korean phrase that he knew which was "I DON’T UNDERSTAND".

- A few minutes later the Korean tried again, but the missionary could only say " I DON’T UNDERSTAND"

- The Korean then tried a third question, only this time the

- American recognized a familiar word YESU which means JESUS.

- The American pointed to himself and said YESU the Old man did the same thing with a smile of delight on His face.

- The Korean then unwrapped the bundle he was carrying . It was a large Korean a Bible

- He turned to a page and pointed to a place that he wanted the American to read. Remembering that oriental Bible are written from back to front . The clergy men took his own Bible and counted the number of books and chapters from the back to the place that the old man had pointed to .

- The old man had pointed to Mark 3:35 "Whoever does the will of God is my brother"

- The American searched for a suitable reply. He counted out and pointed to it in the Korean Bible. It was Psalm 133:1 "Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity"

- The Korean man read it and smiled in agreement and for the rest of the journey, these two men, ages apart in culture were brought together in a remarkable friendship as they pointed first to one verse and then to another.

- Their separate Bibles had a common language of the Spirit. the word of God is a universal appeal and it can direct you as it has directed me

-God made us for fellowship/companionship

- Genesis 2:18KJV

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.

Elijah - Powerful Prophet Yet Alone - 1 K. 19:9-19

- v. 10 - “I, even I only am left”

- v. 9 - “The Lord came to Him”

- v. 9 - “The word of the”

- V. 19 - So he departed thence, and found Elisha

- v. 19 - Plowing with twelve yoke of oxen

Elisha - Comes along Beside Him

- 2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6 KJV

2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel v. 4 Jericho, v. 6 Jordah . And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

- 2 Kings 2:11-12KJV

11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: . . . .

- Lloyd John Ogilvie tells about a young Korean who was learning

the English language. He came upon the word fellowship and said, I understand that. It means fellows in the same ship.

Proverbs 18:24KJV

24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Psalm 73:28KJV

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

How Does the Joy of Fellowship Show Itselt?

1. By Delighting In His Company - 1:3-7

2. By Receiving His Word - 2:3-6

3. By Speaking About Him - 2:21-23

4. By Longing to be Like Him - 3:1-3

5. By Willing be Corrected By Him - 3:18-23

6. By Desiring To Please Him - 5:3-5

7. By Trusting Him - 5:11-13

- The Promise of fellowship at the beginning of Mt.

“Immanuel”--Which means, "God with us." (Mt. 1:23)

- The Promise of Fellowship at the end of Mt. 28:20

"I am with you alway"