Fellowship In Christ

John 17
21 That they all may be one, just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.
22 I have given to them the glory and honour which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are one:
23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and plainly recognise that You sent Me and that You have loved them even as You have loved Me.

That they may be ONE! Jesus’ prayer to His Father is that we might be ONE. One people in Christ, One with The Father and One with each other. It is His heart’s cry and His purpose that we might be ONE! Hallelujah! What a blessed Hope! Oh how little we comprehend the love and longing of The Lord toward us! That we might have the invitation and opportunity to be ONE with God! Oh praise The Lord! Hallelujah!
Jesus does not pray that His people would be in agreement with each other, or united by a cause, but that we would be ONE, a bond far deeper than mere agreement. Jesus here is not praying that His people would all be of one denomination, wearing the same uniform, singing the same songs and standing in agreement with everything that YOU believe! NO! Man, limited in his revelation and understanding, can never produce life that is One with God! The flesh loves to esteem and elevate itself above other ‘lesser’ things. The flesh loves to protect and defend itself, assuming and justifying its own righteousness, and finding pride in attaining standards. No, the body of Christ will never be united by a man’s teaching or tradition. Fellowship is not in academic learning, it is in Christ! Fellowship is not in subscription, it is in Christ! A truth so simple it cuts through all pride of flesh yet the deep mystery of The Gospel!
It is the person of Jesus Christ ONLY AND ALWAYS! HIS LIFE! HIS SPIRIT! As each individual abides in HIM they are ONE! Abiding in HIS love, HIS humility, HIS loving kindness and tender mercies, HIS preferring of others, HIS lifting others up, HIS servant heart, HIS righteousness… As we each abide in HIM we abide close with each other.

1 John 1
3 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.
…
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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

It is as we walk in HIS Light that we fellowship. Our fellowship with each other is with The Father and His Son Jesus Christ! As we walk in HIS Light as HE is in The Light it is then that we have fellowship together. It is there that we are ONE! Too often these days men “fellowship” over pet topics rather than Christ. They look for others to walk in agreement with their preferred doctrine rather than to know if they are in Christ and therefore ONE. Man is always seeking to identity himself with this one or that one but fails to simply be identified with Christ alone! In all circumstances, in all trials, in all conflicts, confusions and arguments identify yourself with Christ! May He be identified/seen in us, in our conversation and in our conduct. How does Jesus treat the brother you disregard or despise? Know for sure that if you cannot be ONE with you brother then you cannot be ONE with Christ!
Consider sitting at The Lord’s communion table, enjoying the incredible wonder and blessing of His voice and presence and His sweet fellowship. Now imagine the brother that you are careful to separate yourself from enters the room, is lovingly welcomed, embraced and joins you at the Father’s table. Oh, give that some thought. What complaint will you give to the all knowing Father? What will your conversation be then?
We will always find that we disagree on interpretations, revelations and understandings, but those things are not where we unite! Jesus is that Light! He is The Way, The Truth and The Life! Whatever your doctrine or theology or understanding of eschatology… get to Jesus! Abide in HIM! Long for HIM, hunger and thirst for HIM, yield and surrender to HIM. In Him WE ALL live and move and have our being! Our joining together as ONE body is only as we are IN HIM!

1 Thessalonians 4
9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

God’s Spirit within His people is teaching them to love. Can we consider ourselves good students? Can we acknowledge and confess the divisions in our own hearts and seek The Lord to free us from such pride and selfishness? We can be so quick to spot lack and disappointment in others and not see them with the heart of Christ.
Oh may we learn what The Lord is teaching us. May our hearts be as His heart with loving longing for His people, serving with humility and interceding with all His heart and soul that we might be ONE!

For I care not what church you belong to,
If on Calvary’s ground you will stand,
And if you love The Lord just like I do,
Then brother please give me your hand.

Named Christian

Acts 11
26 … And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

The disciples never claimed the title of Christian. To do such a thing would have been considered irreverent and arrogant and most unlike Christ! The label was placed upon those who truly lived like they were following Jesus example. It was not self claimed but self evident!
The church today has reduced the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a mere ticket, purchased at the price of an emotional decision, with no repentance and no commitment. The label of “Christian” is claimed when it should only be earned! We claim the title “Christian” without thought, conviction or cost. The word Christian has been twisted to mean so much that it means nothing! Fellowship has been replaced by community, praise neglected for performance whilst repentance and transformation have been scrapped with a lust for attendance and tithe. So much is labelled “Christian” but it is lifeless, empty, unsatisfying, man glorifying flesh! Call it “Christian” if you like but The Word of God does not call it Godly!

Revelation 3
1 … you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

God in His Word gives no promise or blessing to the “Christian”. Promises of blessing to God’s people are always made with specification or condition.
The world’s culture of entitlement, pride and rebellion seem to have influenced the church. We claim a label then demand the blessing, treating Jesus like some ticket for heaven that we can stash in our back pocket. This is arrogance and blasphemy. It has the name of Christ but it is utterly dead! There is no life because there is no Christ!

John 3
3 … unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

2 Corinthians 5
17 … if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Only those who are Born Again of The Spirit of God can see and enter the Kingdom of God; Only those who have repented and called upon the name of The Lord; Only those who believe in their heart that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead and that His Spirit has been sent into our hearts. His sheep are those who know Him and hear His voice, His disciples are those who continue in His word, His people are those who are circumcised of heart and separated from the world.
Beware of merely claiming a label and assuming a blessing. There will be many on the day of judgement to whom He will say ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:22-23)
I am growing ever more careful about any label that man may use. I do not want to be known by the label of my theology, denomination or church building. Let me simply be known as a believer in and disciple/servant/follower of Jesus! I do not want His testimony to be associated with the nonsense and blasphemy that claims His name. Oh Lord may You blow away the chaff and separate your sheep. May You cause the trumpet sound to be clear, establish Your testimony in Your people and expose the flesh that claims Your name! Glorify Yourself once again and cause the nations and to fear and reverence the Almighty, Living, Creator God in His people.

Matthew 7
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
14 Because narrow is the gate and narrow is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

The gate is narrow as a man must forsake everything to fit through it! Forsake all sin, all worldliness, all flesh…
The way is as narrow as a man’s shoulders as it is directly behind Christ, walking in HIS WAY, HIS footsteps!! THERE IS NO OTHER WAY!!

God’s Chosen House

Psalm 132
3 “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, Or go up to the comfort of my bed;
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes Or slumber to my eyelids,
5 Until I find a place for the LORD, A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

There is nothing so precious or so vital as a place for God to rest/dwell with us. It is truly a place that must be found/made/prepared. A loving, longing heart of faith that will not give time or attention to self interests and self comforts will find such a dwelling place.
We give our time and attention to so many little things. We are so prone to distractions. There can seem to be so much to be busy with, we can be “anxious and troubled with many things, But one thing is needed.” Luke 10:40-42 The psalmists eye was single, with vision/desire only for God.
Have we found a place for God to dwell today? Have we set aside all selfish, fleshy desire for comfort, in order that we might find a place for The Lord to come down and be with us? Is there something else more appealing?

Psalm 132
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place:
14 “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

Zion is not a place, it is the gathering of God’s people. Zion is the body of Christ; the sons and daughters of God; those who are circumcised; not of flesh, but of heart; not of flesh but of faith! God has chosen to set HIS glory on HIS people and to abide in and among them! He has chosen US!! He desires US for His resting place forever! Hallelujah!! What a glory! What an honour! What a JOY!!! What a Great Salvation!!
It is so incredible to consider and meditate on this truth. It is far too easy to type/talk… But be encouraged today brothers and sisters… The Lord God Jehovah has chosen you/us as His dwelling place!! Selah!!
May we be careful to find a place for The Lord today. A place of communion, fellowship, rest and LIFE!