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Sunday Life Mirror
Theme:THE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP III
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TEXT:
Heb 10:24-25, Acts 2:42
Memory Verse:
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers. ACTS 2:42 (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION:
Christian fellowship could be defined as a regular gathering together of the believers in Christ for the purpose of
worship which includes teaching, preaching the word of God, ministering to the Lord in songs of worship and praises, collecting the contributions, Collections or levy of the saints, Holy Communion or breaking of bread, and Prayers. It also includes lifting up the spirit of the brethren with testimonies of the Lord's doings in the lives of individuals and the church.
Communicating or sharing material needs where and when necessary to those in need Heb 13:16
Another word for fellowship is communion; both of them are varying translations of the Greek words Koinonia and Koinoneo, which designate ACTS of fellowship observed among early Christians and expresses the unique sense of unity and fellowship by which they outwardly expressed these acts.
However, several passages in which these terms (fellowship or communion) are used fall into two groups: those in which they refer to acts of fellowship, and those in which they refer to fellowship as experienced .
In this lesson we are going to be considering "Fellowship" from these two perspectives. We pray The Holy spirit to open our eyes to see and our hearts to understand the mysteries of Fellowship .
Study:
COMMUNITY OF GOODS OR COMMUNISM
And they continued steadfastly in apostles doctrine and fellowship,and breaking of bread, and in Prayers - (Acts 2:24).The term for fellowship as used in this verse is by some interpreted as Communism, which also refers to the community of goods described in the verses immediately following; (Acts 2:44), in the infant Church at Jerusalem "all that believed were together, and had all things (in) common, and in (Acts 4:34) "as many as were possessors of lands or house sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold at the apostles feet."(Acts 2:45) they sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all men, as every man had need. Refer also to( Acts 4:34-36)
Points we must note in this lesson
- 1.And all that believed
- 2.Were together
- 3.And had all things common
- 1.ALL THAT BELIEVED: That is, that believed that Jesus was the Messiah; for that was the distinguishing point by which they were Known from others, it also means those who believe and accept the doctrine concerning the incarnation, crucifixion,resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ , and had consequently received redemption in His blood. These must also be true of every one of us who are members of the house hold of faith today.
- 2.WERE TO GETHER: They were united; were joined in the same thing. Though these words "Were together" could as well signify either, in one time, as in (Acts 3:1);or in one place as in Acts 2:1 , but the most proper is "in one thing." It does not necessarily mean that they lived in the same house because it was ndot probable that the believers, who then were 3000 in number (ACTS 2:41), beside the 120 spoken of in (Acts 1:15) were used all to meet at one time, or in one place in Jerusalem. But they were united in the same community; or engaged in the same thing. The bible also encourages us today to be like minded, having the same love,(being )of one accord, of one mind (Phil. 2:26). And that we stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phil.1:27 See also 1Cor 1:10)
- 3.AND HAD ALL THINGS COMMON.It was a habit in the present emergency. It was not actual communism, but they held all their property ready for use for the common good as it was needed,or as their mutual wants required. See (Act 4:32).They did not establish a community of goods by any formal arrangement, but in the fullness of Christian love the rich sold their possessions and goods, that distribution might be made to such as needed aid.This situation appears no where else except in Jerusalem and was evidently due to special conditions and circumstances which did not survive permanently.
A good lesson we could learn here was that it was voluntarily but sincerely done and not by compulsion. Every one still had the will or power to retain or hold back any property they had. Even when they sold it,they had the power or will to keep the whole money, but if they had to give, they must sincerely and truth fully give all the proceeds. See( Acts 5:4 also John 19:27.)
When we give to the fellowship of believers, Church or even to one another, we have to understand that we are giving to God; therefore it must come out of a willing and sincere heart of genuine love for God and the brother hood.
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