A Shared Life with Jesus

Back in the 1980's there was a fusion jazz group known as Koinonia. I had no idea why the picked this name and what it could even mean until a few years later someone pointed out that the word meant "fellowship." This past Sunday evening, Wakefield experienced fellowship, koinonia, not the music but the fellowship that occurs between believers in Christ. We took the night off from studying the Truth Project and focused on each other and our relationship with Jesus.

This fellowship was experienced in different ways at each home. The youth had a spaghetti dinner. One home ordered pizza. At our group we had a potluck. Of course, fellowship is more than food choice. It also involves sharing your life, one with the other. This does not need a meal. Fellowship can be had around other experiences, even that of Bible study. What is central to fellowship is not the activity, in our case eating, but the presence of Jesus.

A nice article on fellowship was written by Bob Gillam (The Importance of Fellowship in the New Testament Church). He makes several observations about fellowship, three of which, really stand out. 1) "...'fellowship' was never used to describe man’s relationship to God before the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell the church." 2) "...'fellowship' is that it is a unique relationship with Christ. We have a relationship of being “in Christ.” 3) "...fellowship is not just doing anything together. It is only doing God’s will together."

I watched our people interact throughout the evening. All of those in attendance are saved people, except for one, the spouse of one of our members. This person, the spouse, seemed at ease and enjoyed himself as we ate and talked. However, I couldn't help but notice that when we came together for a time of worship He disappeared. Thinking about Gillam's observations, it is no wonder. Since the spouse lacks the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and has no relationship with Christ, fellowship, in the true sense, is impossible.

Next week we return to the study. I know that all enjoyed themselves this week as we shared our lives one with another. However, when we return to the "books" I hope that we will see and know that fellowship is found in our relationship with Jesus and in our time of doing His will. Also, I hope that it gives us a desire to share Him all the more so that others can experience the life that they are missing.

-Mark



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