The Importance of Fellowship
Theme:
Text: Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:22-25
Heb 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, (21) and having a High Priest over the house of God, (22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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.
Acts 2:42 ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Introduction
Heb 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, (21) and having a High Priest over the house of God, (22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
When you see the word therefore in a verse you have to ask the question, “What is it there for?” Well the author of Hebrews just went through 18 verse telling us how the blood of bulls and goats are not enough to cover over sins.
Two issues
1) They were dissatisfying . They could never cover over the sin. You had to go back and back.
2) They were discouraging. They reminded you of the sinful person you are, each time you went ot sacrifice.
We are told that it is the blood of Jesus who satisfies. Us.
And because of this we can now do something that no one was able to do except the high priest. We could go “boldly into the Holy of Holy. A place where we meet God. He tore the veil, He opened the door. We have a new high priest.
So having this new found opportunity what should we do.
Draw Near
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
The first thing we must do is draw near to Christ. That means that we must not forsake our worship and devotion to Christ. We have just spent three weeks on worship. We should have and understanding of worship. Yet I know that understanding worship and practicing worship could be two different things.
We must draw near to him. We must devote ourselves to him. How? “with a true heart in full assurance of faith”.
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
We must learn trust him even when we “don’t need Him”.
Drawing near to God is an action on our part and there is a promised result.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded. (James 4:8 AV)
True heart – no hypocrisy and sincerity
Assurance of faith Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience
Bodies washed in pure water
Repentance, forgiveness and change. “God loves you enough to meet you where you are and enough not to leave you there.
Hold fast
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
The second thing that we are told to do is hold fast. Some translations say, “keep a firm grip, hold tightly, or hold firmly”. In other words we are to hold onto that which we believe “the profession of our faith”. It is important that we know what we believe in.
We must understand that our faith will be tested. Our faith will be tried. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16 AV)
Doubts and discouragement will come when we put down our shield of faith. Sooner or later we have to determine what we believe in, take a firm grip on the shield of faith and hold on for dear life.
One person said, “When you feel like you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hold on.”
Focus on Fellowship with Last two Points
This is what these last two points are about. It is about fellowship. It is about coming together. It is about needing one another. We must face this, if we are going to survive in these crucial times we must not miss the fact that we need one another.
Consider one another
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Here we are told a third thing to do in crucial times and that is to “consider one another”. These words mean “to pay attention to one another. We need one another. We need the comfort of each other.
I need you to “provoke me to love and to good works” That word provoke means to incite or to stimulate. Also this word means to “irritate”. I think all three are appropriate here. We are called to incite or build up one another to love and to show good works. But I also believe that we need to become an irritant in people’s lives that they want to do good works.
Maybe it has happened to you but there are some people I meet that are so happy and do such good things that it irritates me. It also challenges me personally to do better.
Most importantly is the fact that we “consider on another” in other words there is a continuos care one for another. This is the true center of fellowship.
When we use the word fellowship we think of food, a mean, or a social. Yet fellowship is more than a social, it is caring for each others needs. Acts 2:44 tells us that the New Testament church, “44 were together, and had all things common”. There was a sense of community there. There was care for one another’s burdens.
I believe it would be safe to say that they weeped when some one weeped and that had joy with those who had joy. This is true Christian fellowship.
We need one another
For none of us liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself. (Romans 14:7 AV)
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:4
If you were to scan through Paul’s writing you would see this common theme of “unity in the spirit”. One body, one Lord, and one baptism.
Corporate Worship
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.
This fellowship is expressed most of all in our ministries throughout the church. Whether it is in the worship services, Sunday morning and Sunday night, or in the many other ministries that are available throughout our church.
The writer here stress this fact in Hebrews 10:25 when he says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”. The Message translation hits the nail on the head when it reads, “not avoiding worshiping together”. This seems to become a common practice in the local church here in Hebrews.
Things have not changed. Many people still miss the value of being a part of a corporate worship service. They miss the benefits of coming “assembling together”. I have to question me, “Does a Christian have to go to church?” My response is usually no, to be a Christian you must accept Christ’s leadership in your life. Yet I don’t know many faithful and committed Christians who have the capacity to be in church and yet lay out.
Notice the benefits of corporate worship “exhorting one another”. The word “exhort” here means to “to admonish, to encourage, and to strengthen”. Notice again this focus on “one another”. Corporate is not just about ourselves but it is about each other. When we miss this experience then we miss an opportunity to help one another.
Also notice the accountability factor here. Worshiping together also makes us accountable one to another.
Let me also make one more note concerning fellowship. It is important that we notice it is one of the four pillars of a true church.
If there ever was a definition of a true church it would have to be Acts 2:42
Acts 2:42 ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Four things that make a true Christian church: 1) teaching of the Word of God (apostle’s doctrine) 2) fellowship (corporate worship) 3) communion (breaking of bread) we sometimes get this one confused with the previous fellowship. 4) praying.
This is what makes a true church. Notice again the emphasis on fellowship.
Fellowship is communion. Because we have things in common.
We have the same Father (John 1:13),
who bought us with the same Price (1 Cor 6:20),
we became members of the same Body (Col 1:18),
we are taught by the same Spirit (John 16:13),
we are walking on the same Path (2 Cor 5:7),
serving the same Master (Matthew 23:8)
and are joint heirs in the same Inheritance (Romans 8:17)
1 John 1:5 “. . . God is light, and in him is no darkness at all . . . But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another . . .”
This is why it is so important that we are careful who we fellowship with.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 AV)
"For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness" (Psalm 84:10).
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the lord" (Psalm 122:1).
Conclusion
We are living in crucial times. We need the church more today than ever before. Christ is coming soon. I challenge you to use all the available ministries in this church. There is so much going on around you to encourage you. To help you. The strengthen you. The teach you. To encourage you.
