We will begin our reading with:

Eccl 4:9-12

9          Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10        For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when      he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11        Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12        And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

(KJV)

Rom 12:4-5

4          For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5          So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

(KJV)

We fail to see the importance that God has laid out in Unity.  That is “Being one body in Christ”

We have fell for the lure of satan that causes division, in the Church, in the Family, and in the mind of the individual. This has been the devils plot and ploy all along to cause division, strife, and confusion.

But John 4:4 says greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

We must exercise our faith and work diligently pressing into the Word, and depending on Jesus to deliver us from the wiles of the enemy. For faith without works is dead according to James 2:20: and 26.

God demands unity in the Church that we have taken for granite. He demands unity in the body of Christ to function according to His Will, which is recorded in the word of God.

One way to accomplish the mission of the Cross we must bear is in proper Fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our form of fellowship today can be less than desirable to God. What must He think at times after all that He has done? Giving His Son to die on the Cross, the Holy Bible that is the inspired Word of God. The trees, the dew, and the flowers. Things and blessings to countless to number. But all we can do is Blame, Moan, and Whine it is not enough, and so and so this and so and so that. We become satins BMW club. As one pastor put it, Blamers, Moaners, and Whiners.

Then we smile and run around with this false security that God is happy with us. When in fact He is so tired of it that He is ready to spew “Vomit” the luke warm out of His mouth.

We need to examine and address the issues why we have trouble in the Camp.  One of our main reasons is Fellowship. Unless we learn the proper ways of fellowship then we will be lacking the knowledge God would have for us in maintaining ourselves and the loved ones around us.

One thing we have to have in building a healthy relationship in fellowship is TRUST.

Lev 6:1-4

1          And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2          If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in     that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;

3          Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:

4          Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,

(KJV)

Fellowship is having a true and faithful heart. We are not to be deceitful with one another. A little lie can do a lot of damage. Remember Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue.

Prov 18:21

21        Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

(KJV)

But we can find ourselves too many times letting our tongue wag freely. Out of control without a bridle on it. Instead of lifting up our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are putting them down.

I remember while sitting in the pew of the Church trying to pray and seek God’s face. Two old hens were cackling about another sister in Christ. Unashamed to who might hear them. Boasting about how they were making her life miserable.

Something is wrong in a person’s heart when they cannot follow Biblical truths and instruction. Something is wrong in a person’s heart when they find pleasure in putting others in the body of Christ down. Something is wrong with them when the conviction power of the Holy Spirit cannot penetrate the hardness of their own hearts.

They just sit around speaking death and curses on people.  They don’t care about what they say and who they hurt. And in fifteen minutes they stand before a living God lifting their hands in praise and worship saying. I serve you Lord Jehovah my God, I serve you Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. When in fact just a little earlier they were serving satin and doing his bidding. You tell me where they stand with Christ. You cannot serve both. There is something wrong in their life. The book of Proverbs says that both life and death are spoke with the tongue. And if someone speaks death against someone with their tongue, he or she is speaking spiritual murder. And the Bible tells me their are no murderer's will be found in heaven. 

There is something wrong in the life of someone who can smile and speak to you face to face and the minute they turn around he or she begins backbiting. They grow teeth like a beaver and hop up between your shoulder blades and plant them deep wounding you to the core. The book of Proverbs says!

Prov 25:23

23        The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

(KJV)

If we ever hope for the Holy Spirit to rain down upon us we better put away the perverse things we are doing with our tongues. We better stop our tongue wagging, our backbiting, feeling free to say anything we want to say about one another. We nee to put away our racism, pride of denominationalism. I tell you on the authority of Jesus Christ ism's will send you to hell. False teachings of what man thinks. To many run around and proclaim to be a Christian and proclaim the Bible is left open to each individuals interpretation. That's a lie of the devil. God is not the author of confusion satan is! My Lord get on your knees and ask God and quit following every wind of doctrine that blows along. We need to get that religious spirit off of us and seek God! The Bible says in Revelations 15:4, All nations will worship Him. Isaiah 66:23 All flesh will come to worship Him. Get off of your color barriers or the only color you will see is the flames of hell because you WILL NOT make it into the kingdom of God. Either the word of God is all true or all a lie. It will never be half way and certainly not the way you want it. But the creators way and His way alone. Praise God!! 

We also need to check our lives and take a look at our countenance.

Something is wrong when you see a self proclaimed Christian that has a stuck up or snooty attitude. When someone speaks to you, you stick up your nose and walk on by. You can’t seem to put a smile on your face. You seem to have no joy in your life. You need a spiritual check up.

My Bible tells me. For greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

I Jn 4:4

4          Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

(KJV)  

And if you cannot smile or have any joy, peace, and happiness in your life then guess what you are lacking. Jesus Christ in your life! If Christ is in you, you will act Christ like and not like the world.

Acts 2:42

42        And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

(KJV)

We are to continue steadfastly.  Continue steadfastly is the Strong’s Concordance number 4342. It means to.

4342  proskartereo (pros-kar-ter-eh'-o);

from 4314 and 2594; to be earnest towards, i.e. (to a thing) to persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor):

KJV-- attend (giveself) continually (upon), continue (in, instant in, with), wait on (continually).

So we are to continue earnestly, constantly, diligently, and adhere closely to the apostles doctrine and fellowship with one another.

We need to be careful with who and what we fellowship with. If you know that a person has a problem talking about others and you continue to hang around them even if you do not participate in talking about others at the moment. I guarantee you will soon start. Birds of a feather flock together but Praise God an Eagle can soar alone.

I mean if you hang around a spirit of backbiting, it will soon get on you. If you hang around a spirit of tongue wagging it will soon get on you. If you hang around a spirit of lust or pornography it will soon get on you.

Put yourself around Godly people and leave the heathens and hypocrites alone.

You are to Pray for them and compel them to come to or back to Christ but your are not to fellowship with them. If you do then you are approving of that kind of life style and just as guilty.

I don’t care, too much trash, filth and garbage has been left to run loose in the Church in the name of offending someone. In Jesus name it is high time we offend some people and they either clean it up or be cast out of the Church.

The apostle Paul wrote in :

1 Cor 5:1-5

1          It is reported commonly that there is fornication (This means all kinds of impurities, perversion and immorality) among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

2          And ye are puffed up, (You are so full of strife and contention you have forgot about the discipline of the Church) and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

3          For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

4          In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

5          To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

(KJV)

In this scripture John is very clear in his writing about getting the rebel out of the Church.

3 Jn 1:9-11

9          I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

10            Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

11            Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

(KJV)

If we are to come in true alignment with God we must follow His basic principles if we are to see the mighty works, wonders, and miracles of God. God will not habitate a sinful house. We have to fall under the authority of God and exercise His will. And if there is a rebellious spirit among us that will not change. I assure you it is not of God but of the devil “CAST it out and GET RID of the foul nasty thing.

It is hindering us from the full power, and blessings, and being in the presents of our HOLY FATHER. And that we cannot tolerate that any longer.

Four Persons you should Fellowship with.

1.      God the Father.

2.      God the Son.

3.      God the Holy Spirit.

4.      The Fellow Christian.

That seems easy enough, but why do we have such a hard time doing that. It seems we want to fellowship with the world more than with the four persons that God has instructed us to fellowship with. If we fellowship with the first three like we should then the fourth is very easy to distinguish and do.

But due to our lack of integrity and faith we fall into the plot of the enemy and fellowship with the forty persons God says not to fellowship with. Then we soon find ourselves being the wedge that is being driven by satan and his band of demons. We find ourselves being foolish and gullible enough to listen to his plan. And before you know it you cause division and split the Church. You cause lost souls to go to Hell because of your haughty attitude thinking you are so right and acting like hell its self.

I got news for you. There is a judgment where you and you alone will stand accountable for the deeds that you have done. And the blood of the lost souls that watched your foolish actions will be required of your hands. As it drips off one by one as they enter eternal damnation. Your pride, your actions, your words, your lifestyle. God has laid out a vision we all should have and follow and if yours differs from the word of God then you are in division. The Greek word di meaning two, added to vision means two visions. and there can never be two visions only one. Some people mistake their calling for vision. Answer your calling and follow God's vision and everything will be alright with the Almighty God. If not then you are then the wedge in the body of Christ.

If I were you I would question the condition of my soul. You may find yourself numbered in that number that would not make it to glory. But find Hell as your home.

God gives instruction TEN times more of people we should not fellowship with, than those we should.

Forty persons not to fellowship with.

Dake NT 279

I Jn 1:1-10

1          That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2          (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3          That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4          And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5          This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6          If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7          But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8          If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9          If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10        If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

(KJV)  

*

Living in fellowship with God means that we will have joy. Yet our pride causes us to forfeit that joy when we try to hide our own sin. We cannot be in a right relationship with God unless we live humbly, honestly, and dependently upon Him. If we are living in true fellowship with God, we should have no problems living in true fellowship with other Christians.

God wants us to fellowship with Him and to fellowship with one another. We should choose actions we want Him to see and the words we want Him to hear. We should make decisions that He would approve of.

Listen to this excerpt taken from a speech given December 12, 1964 in New York City by Malcolm X

I believe in the brotherhood of man, all men, but I don’t believe in brotherhood with anybody who doesn’t want brotherhood with me. I believe in treating people right, but I’m not going to waste my time trying to treat somebody right who doesn’t know how to return the treatment.

Malcolm X (1925–65), U.S. radical leader. Speech, 12 Dec. 1964, New York City.

This is a problem we have in the Church today. No one wants to fellowship from within. They look to the outside to find their pleasure and talent, and never look to the inside to see the pleasure and talent they already have.

They are so engulfed with confusion outside of the body, that they do not know the members of the body. They are so full of pride and jealously they will stifle and choke a fellow Christian from performing their calling in fear they may do it better than them.

They live in their own world of delusion thinking things are where they should be. They think the talent is here and there when it has been with them all along. And if they are not careful such as the man who did not use his talent wisely. God will take theirs away from them and give it to someone else with ten talents that will use it.  Matthew 25:24

If you cannot find it from within you will never find it, and there is something spiritual wrong. You just will not fully and wholly listen to God. You have uncircumcised ears according to the prophet Jeremiah in chapter 6:10

People in the Church are forming clicks, becoming haughty, high minded, and respecters of persons. When God says He is not, and you better not be!

But we still mandate the form of us three around me. Us four and no more. Then whine I just don’t understand what is happening. The fire is just not burning around here like it has been. When the answer is hypocrites like this among us being an infectious disease making the entire body of Christ sick.

People constantly seek for Revival and wonder why there is none and why new births are few and limited. When the majority of the Church is spiritually dieing, half dead, or dead already.

It is going to take God to give a laxative of purging and cleansing to the Church to get the mess out so the saints of God can go about the Fathers business. But this will take leaders who are not afraid to move when God tells them to and do what He has burdened them to do. And quit being bench grippers and floor mats for the devil.

If it is not right, deal with it in prayer the best you can, and if it is rebellious and will not submit to God’s mandate. GET RID OF IT. It is nothing but a demon with a skin stretched over it. It is a wolf with sheep’s clothing. It has come to Kill, Steal, and Destroy. We Don’t Need It In Our Church. We Do Not Want To Fellowship With Devils, Or People Who Refuse To Convert And Conform To God’s Ways.

Our Churches need to be healed and well so they can come under travail and birth new converts.

There are three exhortations by Christ authority found in 1 Cor 1: 9-10.

1 Cor 1:9-10

9          God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

10        Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the

(KJV)

1.      That you speak the same things.

2.      That there be no division.

3.      That you be unified in all things.

Jesus prayed for the unity in John 17:11; & 21-22. Not only for unity with our spirit, soul, and body to be in alignment with God. But for that same alignment within the body of Christ. It is the Christians responsibility for God’s unity to work.

The Apostle Paul warned Christians that intimate relationships with unbelievers is dangerous.

2 Cor 6:14

14        Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

(KJV)

We better be careful of who we are hanging around. We are not to be unequally yoked, stay within your own ranks. Do not join with heathens, idolaters, and worldly things. These things can lead you astray.

Jesus said to go out into the world and make disciples of all people. No to go out into the world and conform back to the sinful ways. Like a dog lapping up its own vomit or a hog returning to its Waller. We are not to befriend worldly things but compel the sinner to come to Christ to except Him as their personal Lord and Saviour.

2 Cor 8:4 tell us we should take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. We are to excel in our giving. Be a cheerful giver. God gives abundantly to us; we should give what he has given. The Macedonia Church gave beyond her means and ability praying that their giving would be received. We should have that same spirit of giving. Jesus gave all that He had to secure us into the Kingdom. We should continue to give all that we can by paying our tithe and offerings. By doing so ministry can go out and reach others to compel them to Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 8:4

4          Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

(KJV)

Be a cheerful giver don’t grieve it.

We should be concerned about how we are seen by others. We should be concerned about how close our walk is with God. Is our attitude in the right place? Are our motives correct?

When we take the right hand of Church Fellowship we are showing a display of Trust Confidence and friendship to a fellow believer. People are brought into a brother and sisterhood of fellow believers in Christ only to be left to rot and wither away in the pews. Due to neglect and us not fulfilling the will and leadership of God according to His Word.

I’m telling you we run around with our nose in the air following the crowds like some old hound dog on the hunt. When in fact the crowds we are following are leading us to certain destruction.

We think we have to be in the in-group when we should be in God’s group. We are fooling ourselves and placing a seal on our own damnation. God says He is not a respecter of persons and you better not be.

We have become so preoccupied by thinking the grass is greener on the other side that we totally miss God.

When in fact we are blinded by our own delusions of what we think things should be like by the people who folly a fancy fairy tail around us, and Romans 8:8 says if we are in the flesh we cannot please God.

Again we are to be careful with whom we fellowship with especially our motive. Man has a tendency to look on the outward things of the flesh. The glitter, the glamour, the flashing lights.

God looks to into the heart to see where His treasure lies. For what has a man gained if he gains the whole world but looses his own soul. What do you have when you are lacking peace of mind, peace in your heart, peace in your soul.

You can have everything that the world has to offer in your life and be the most miserable creature that ever inhabited the planet earth. When all you need is Jesus to fill the void of that empty whole in your life.

Phil 1:5-6

5          For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

6          Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

(KJV)

For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. What has your fellowship been from your first day until now?

What has your fellowship been?

The word fellowship used here is only one of five different meanings given in the New Testament. It is formed from the Greek word <koin-onia>

It translates as the word

1.      Fellowship in Philippians 1:5

2.      Communion in 1 Cor 10:16

3.      Communicate in Heb 13:16

4.      Contribution in Rom 10:26

5.      Distribution in 2 Cor 9:13

This should about sum it up of what fellowship should be about. We need to examine in our lives of how we compare to the teaching of God’s Word. Where are the areas of lack in our own lives? Are we living up to God’s standard that He has laid before us?

To Fellowship is to commune with one another. Communicate with one another. Contribute and Distribute with one another. Simply to minister to the saints.

Not to form clicks or secret in house organizations where only those few whom you select fit in. To set on a bench scoffing and mocking something someone says because you do not understand the finer things of God just because it wont fit your life style.

Got a News Flash for you. It is not about you but about Him. Amen.

Where few fit in is not unity that is division. And a divided house will not stand. But I am so glad I serve a God that exposes the wedges of division and demands a correction or casting out. That demands a purging and cleansing or be purged out. That demands a unity in his house and will have it simply because He is God.

It has been prophesied and we have said we want to go back to the first church age anointing of the five-fold ministry. Where God raises men and women so powerful that hell itself trembles at the footsteps of these mighty saints. When satan wages war so strong to try and prevent his demise. Where he once use to laugh at what he thought was a victory but now curses and runs when the saints stretch forth their hands with the mighty hand of God and His Glory penetrates the darkness and the victory is in Jesus Christ. Give Him the Praise, Honor and Glory.

It is not by might nor by power but my Spirit say’s the Lord. We thank you Jesus for what you have done.

Phil 3:10 tell us we need to know Christ in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering, being made conformable unto His death.

Phil 3:10

10        That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

(KJV)

We need to be willing to know Christ Power, the resurrection and lone to suffer, fellowship His suffering. To be conformed to be just like Jesus even to die the same death as Jesus did.

Heb 10:25

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.

(KJV)

We are not to fail the assembling ourselves together. When two or three are gathered in my name. When we come together and agree in prayer on things. You know I have heard too many people say, well so and so this and so and so that. Let me enlighten you. The fault is yours. God holds you accountable for your sins and the excuses you believe that satan gives you. You should have been coming to the house of God to seek Him and not to entertain or be an audience to your neighbor.

There is more to fellowship than a gathering of people in a building from time to time. It is not something owned by a few people. It is an ordained thing of God for the ministering of the saints. And until we grasp the basic concept and come in unity we will always fall short of the will of God

In closing I believe in my God for a sifting, to separate the wheat from the tares. To call forth that remnant to come together lining themselves up with God. Receiving a fresh and powerful anointing. And once we align ourselves up with God we will be unified with one another. Then we can stand sanctified in the presents of our Lord for the final battle that is about to begin.

If you are lost and undone or you have fallen away from God. I ask you now to come in prayer to Him that your sins be forgiven, that you are renewed and be made whole in Jesus Name.

May God bless you.

Reverend Jonathan E. Phillips

Send e- mail to Still Waters Ministries with questions or comments.
Copyright © 1999- 2001 Still Waters Ministries.
Last modified: December 05, 2000