Week of Prayer & Fasting, 25 30 October 2010 They Continued Steadfastly in Fellowship Prepared and presented by Pastor Victor Jibuike Mbakwe 26 October 2010 They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 1
Bible Text: Acts 2:42-47 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church [a] daily those who were being saved. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 2
Key phrase from the text They continued steadfastly in..fellowship They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 3
1. Introduction Objectives of the message To consider the following questions: What does it mean to continue steadfastly? What is meant by fellowship? Why is fellowship important to Christians? How can we practice true fellowship? They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 4
2. What is meant by the phrase: continued steadfastly To continue steadfastly means that.. the early church not only received from the Lord Jesus and the Apostles, but retained what they had received, were loyal to it, and consistently acted on its principles. This is the challenge for us as Christians today. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 5
3. What is Fellowship? Fellowship : Word origin: koinonos; community, partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) interaction, - (to) communicate, communion, sharing, fellowship. I believe that in verse 42 the writer is not talking about the partnership or sharing of personal property; he refers to this in verse 44 when he says that they had all things in common. Instead when he uses the word fellowship, he is primarily talking about their meetings together for spiritual reasons. Note that they met EVERY DAY, not just on Sabbaths and solemn feasts. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 6
Desiring koinonos Their desire to meet as often as possible flowed out of their love each other. They were not hermits but they wanted to be together all the time. They were concerned for each other. There was a hostile and persecutive world out there.they needed to protect each other, to encourage each other, to be there for one another. I want to encourage you to make a commitment to attend spiritual meetings as often as you can, It s God s way of growing us and shielding us from a hostile and unbelieving world. Not just Sunday services, but cell churches, prayer groups, women s groups, men groups, youth meetings, informal meetings of friends etc. Fellowship was important to the early Christians. It has to be important to us as well. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 7
Worship, a daily event Worshipping God is not just for when we have opportunity. There is a need for more commitment. Our worship of God must be our daily event; the more often the better. Heb 10:25: 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. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 8
Transformational Fellowship The early church didn t just have meetings. They had transformational fellowship. This sort of fellowship that produces change - in people, situations and circumstances. My desire is that we too would have transformational fellowship whenever we meet together as Christians. Some examples from the early church: Acts 16:24-26; Acts 4; Acts 12;Acts 13 They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 9
Transformational Fellowship (continued) These are the types of meetings I m talking about. It s not about just turning up. Of course we must turn up for meetings. But that s first level fellowship. When you go to your house, or cell group meetings, prayer meetings, men s meetings youth meetings, or just meeting with friends for spiritual reasons, go beyond just showing your face. Get involved. Join in. Participate. Seek God. Have high expectations. And you will see God transform your life as well as other people s lives and situations. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 10
4. Why is Fellowship important? A) THE NEED TO BE TOGETHER In the pluralistic, pre-christian, antigod society that they lived in, and with much persecution about, it was crucial for the early Christians to stick together in fellowship. Our society today is not much dissimilar, except that its post-christian, and scientific. We must meet not because it is law or because it will get us to heaven. It cannot cleanse our sins. But it is the wisdom of God and a choice that you can make. As we saw earlier, Paul reminds us in Heb 10:25, that Christian Fellowship is important more so as we approach the day of the Lord s return. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 11
B) TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE Ecclesiastes 4:9-11, V9: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: We can achieve more together than on our own. V10: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Fellowship is about love for each other, concern for each other, learning from each other, encouragement. Life throws so many issues at us: death, illness, unemployment, debt, marital issues etc. There are many temptations. These things can stress us out; cause us to fall. We need others to lift us up when we fall. To help us to keep going, when the going gets tough. Together we can help each other make it. Christians are not fighting physical enemies but powerful spiritual enemies. Ephesians 6.10-18. Divided, we fall. United, we stand. Together with the saints we can overpower the enemy. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 12
c) GOD S PURPOSE FOR THE CHURCH Fellowship is the indispensable means of accomplishing the God-given purpose of the church. Romans 12:4-8: Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. (See also Ephesians 3:6) They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 13
5. How can we practice fellowship? a) Unity. The practice of fellowship is the outward exercise of our inner unity in what we have in common and in doing God s will. Acts 4:32: All the believers were one in heart and mind. This Unity of heart was absolutely crucial for the early Christians. It is the spring from which all outward expression of true fellowship flows. We need to always remember the things we Christians have in common: salvation, common enemy, same Lord and God, same doctrine, same Holy Spirit. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 14
5. How do we practice fellowship? b) Right relationship with God. True fellowship is a tripartite relationship: it s not just with each other but with God. Biblical fellowship stems from being in right relationship with God. 1 John 1:3: We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:7: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 15
5. How do we practice fellowship? c) Sharing. True Fellowship involves looking after each other and sharing what we have with others. Acts 4:32b: No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. Giving of ourselves, our time, our resources, to God s work and to others is a fundamental aspect of Fellowship. Heb 13:16: And don t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. (NLT). Heb 12:15: Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. (NLT) They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 16
5. How do we practice fellowship? d) Participation. We practice fellowship by taking an active part where we can best help with God s goal for the church. I Corinthians 12.7,12,17: Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. You can discover where you can best help by recognizing your spiritual gifts and natural abilities and by helping where you can make not just yourself, but the church as a whole, to be fruitful. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 17
6. Summary and Conclusion We have seen that fellowship is in effect, the outward expression of our common interests, goals and inner sense of unity, which leads us to want to be with and to share what we have with other Christians. The early Christians continued steadfastly In Fellowship, along with Apostles doctrine, breaking of bread and prayer. These are the pillars and foundations of any transformational local church. The result? Fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles...having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. If we want to see similar results, if we want to turn our world around, we must do likewise. May God help us help to do in Jesus name. Amen. They continued steadfastly in Fellowship. By Ps Victor Jibuike. 26.10.2010 18