7 More Fellowships

~ We Possess Together ~   

The meaning of the word fellowship can be understood by imagining “fellows” together in a small “ship” for an extended period of time. Fellowship includes the concept of sharing something in common. We read in Scripture that some of the Christians in the New Testament had everything in common (Acts 2:44, 4:32).

Consider some Scripture passages which describe different aspects of our Christian fellowship.

We are fellow participants with the same calling and future (Ephesians 3:6) ~ You and your fellow Christians have been called to be God’s ambassadors on earth and you will share an eternity together!

  

We are fellow workers together serving one Master (Philippians 4:3) ~ On earth Christians are to be workers together for the kingdom of God and His righteousness. 

We are fellow members of one body (Ephesians 3:6) ~ All true Christians are members of the one true universal Church of which Jesus Christ is pictured as the head in a metaphor of a human body.  Individual components of the body are to be controlled by and take commands from the head! 

We are fellow soldiers of one warfare (Philippians 2:25) ~ We are always fighting invisible, and sometimes visible, forces of evil. Fortunately we have been given all the armor we need (Ephesians 6:10-20).

 

We are fellow citizens of one homeland (Ephesians 2:19) ~ As Christians we have become citizens of heaven and are pilgrims—not tourists—passing through life on earth. We should long for our true homeland!

We are fellow sufferers—sometimes even fellow prisoners (Romans 16:7) ~ The task we have as Christians is not always easy—trials, tribulations, and persecution can be the result of fulfilling our responsibilities.

 

We are fellow heirs of the same destination with one inheritance (Ephesians 3:6) ~ As a Christian you are truly rich—wealthy! We are joint-heirs of everything with Christ and our fellow Christians.

The bottom line is that our lives should first be devoted to our Savior and then to our fellow pilgrims (2 Corinthians 8:5). The sequence is critical—first a commitment to God, then to our fellow believers.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT:  It should also be noted that our basis of fellowship with one another is based on our relationship and fellowship with all three members of the Trinity! (1 John 1:3; Philippians 3:10, 2:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14.)   

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

EXTRA: International Book Awards

~ One Precious Pearl — Second Award ~ 

LOS ANGELES  –  JPX Media Group announced the winners and finalists of THE 2011 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (IBA) on May 11, 2011.  Over 300 winners and finalists were announced in over 140 categories covering print and audio books.  Jeffrey Keen, President and CEO, said “The 2011 results represent a phenomenal mix of books from a wide array of publishers throughout the world.”  Winners and finalists came from 11 different countries.

“2011 Runner-up” in the “Religion: Christian” category was awarded to One Precious Pearl: God’s Design for His Church by Robert Lloyd Russell (paperback, 978-0-7414-6232-9).  This thought-provoking book provides fascinating parallels between the universal church and a pearl.  Devout Christian scholars and casual Christian readers have found the book enlightening, enriching, practical, and most importantly memorable.  

Earlier this year, Reader Views Literary Awards named One Precious Pearl as their 2011 Book of the Year in their “Religion: Eastern/Western” category.   

Since its release One Precious Pearl has received many excellent reviews.

For example, the prestigious Midwest Book Review awarded 5.0 stars (out of 5.0 possible) to this book. Part of their review stated that One Precious Pearl is, “a thoughtful and highly recommended pick.”  

For more information about One Precious Pearl click on the OPP tab at the top of this blog or see the author’s website (link at top right of the Abundant Life Now blog). You may order directly from Amazon. 

7 Fellowships

~ Are You Enjoying Them All? ~   

There are seven significant fellowships the Christian enjoys. Three are direct fellowship with each member of our Triune God.  The other four involve indirect fellowship with members of the Trinity.    

Fellowship with the Father ~ “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father…” (1 John 1:3).

Fellowship of the Son ~ “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9). “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

Fellowship of the Spirit ~ “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy” (Philippians 2:1). “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Fellowship in the Light ~ “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7).  

Fellowship of Suffering ~ “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings…” (Philippians 3:10). 

Fellowship in Service ~ “Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here” (Colossians 4:7-9).

Fellowship in the Gospel ~ “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:3-6).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

The Tabernacle

~ Special Guest Blog ~

My wife, and the mother of two wonderful daughters, is also an accomplished Bible Study Leader. Recently as a group she was leading came to their final lesson on a Beth Moore video series, she wrote the following poem. Enjoy! 

“In your tabernacle, Lord, you are there.

“Months ago we came together, a group of ladies of different backgrounds, different ages, different personalities, different strengths, weaknesses, and gifts. We prayed, ‘Lord, we want to see you. We want to know you more. Show us your glory. Teach us from your Word.’

“You gently guided us into your tabernacle and we found you there.

“We first approach the high curtained outer walls, made of fine white linen. You are there in the radiant, righteous covering of your salvation.

“You draw us toward the gate, on the eastern side, hung with curtains embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. In the blue we see your heavenly character, in the purple your royalty, and in the scarlet your precious blood shed in sacrifice for us. You are there.

“Just inside the gate, we stand before the imposing altar of sacrifice, acacia wood covered in bronze. You are there, in the consuming fire lit by your holy hand and in the sacrifices made there as payment for sin, a foreshadow of you, the precious Lamb of God whose sacrifice for us was once and for all.

“Moving past the altar, we see the bronze basin. Gazing into the mirrored basin, we see our own unrighteousness reflected back to us.  We take off our sandals and wash our hands and feet.  You teach us that this cleansing symbolizes the perfect cleansing provided by your pure water, which purifies us and makes us holy. You are there.

“Cleansed by the pure water, we now enter the Holy Place, where our eyes are drawn to the left, to the light of the lampstand made of one solid piece of pure hammered gold. We smell the pure oil of pressed olives that fuels the seven flames, and we think of the you, the Light of the World. You are there.

“To our right, illuminated by the golden lampstand, stands the table of showbread. You teach us that the twelve loaves represent the twelve tribes of Israel, a continual reminder of your covenant with your children and a memorial of your provision of food. We think about the Bread of Life, and we know you are there.

“Passing between the golden lampstand on our left and the table of showbread on our right, we move towards the far end of the Holy Place, where we find the altar of incense. The sweet-smelling incense, burned every morning and every evening, speaks of our prayers, rising as sweet vapor to you.

“Now, just beyond the altar of our prayers, we find before us the veil, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, embroidered with designs of cherubim. Dare we pass through the veil, to the place only the high priest is allowed? On what grounds are we worthy? You remind us of your Word, Christ Jesus, who gave His life as the final, perfect, complete sacrifice, when the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom! And we understand it clearly – we enter through the veil not on our own merit, but through the blood sacrifice of our Lord and Savior. We praise you, Lord. You are there!

“Beyond the veil, we find ourselves in the most precious place, the Holy of Holies. In your presence, we fall on our faces before the Ark of the Testimony and the Mercy Seat. Your Word tells us, ‘And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the testimony’ (Exodus 25:22). Your promise is sure – we find you there.

“We think back to our prayer, ‘Lord, we want to see you. We want to know you more. Show us your glory. Teach us from your Word.’ Thank you, our dear Lord, for answering that prayer in a mighty way!

“Thank you for leading us through your tabernacle, and for being there every step of the way. Thank you for your great love for us and your sacrifice for us. Thank you for your precious Word, which teaches us that we are your tabernacle, and you dwell with us (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

“ ‘The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us’ (John 1:14). In your tabernacle, Lord, you are here.”    

3 Person God-Head, 3 Roles

~ The Trinity in Salvation ~   

The opening chapters of both Ephesians and 1 Peter provide three great aspects of salvation through the Trinity. It was God, the Father, who developed the plan. It was the Son of God who revealed the plan. Continuing today, it is the Spirit of God who empowers the plan. 

Chosen by God the Father ~ God the Father was the initiator—it was the Father who sent His only Son. He was the prime initiator of our salvation. “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes” (Ephesians 1:4).

Redeemed by God the Son ~ Jesus Christ is the redeemer—it was the Son of God who came to earth as a man, lived a perfect life while on earth, and then paid the penalty for sin for those who place their trust in Him. “He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins” (Ephesians 1:7).

Sealed by God the Spirit ~ The Holy Spirit is our helper—it is the Spirit of God who empowers us to live a life worthy of our calling (2 Thessalonians 1:11). “It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

The Trinity at work in our salvation is also found in the first chapter of 1 Peter.

Redemption by power – work of the Father ~ “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:20-21).

Redemption by blood – work of the Son ~ “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Redemption through the Word – work of the Holy Spirit ~ “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:22-23).   

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW