JOY IN FELLOWSHIP

“…that you also may have FELLOWSHIP with us; and truly our FELLOWSHIP is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL” – 1 John 1: 3b-4

There is Fullness of JOY in the FELLOWSHIP of Believers. John affirmed this in his first epistle: letter: One of our most valuable assets as believers is the Blessing of Fellowship: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing – Life forevermore” (Psa.133: 1-3). True fellowship with one another and with God is the basis for true joy. “Fellowship” means sharing in common, or sharing together. The idea that we, who were so defiled by sin, could have fellowship – could share together – with the holy God, not just for the few years on this earth, but forever, is overwhelming!

The glorious theme that John presents is the JOY of FELLOWSHIP with God and with one another. The greatest joys in life come from loving relationships. We all want such relationships – they are Priceless! In the place of prayer, Bible study, and the Worship Service, we are in the presence of God; and in His presence is Joy evermore –not discouragement, not despair, depression, not despondency, not guilt! Our Almighty Father is such a powerful Personality that, when we are truly in His presence, it is virtually impossible, not to be affected by Who He is. This is why we need to take advantage of every invitation to fellowship with Him, in study and prayer, as He always desires to infuse us with Who He is. The more we fellowship with Him – through His Body, the Church – the more we become like Him, and experience His Fullness of Joy!

The Secret to this Joy is the Presence of God amidst His people: “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psa.16:11). The Lord Jesus Christ confirms this in the New Testament: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Mt.18:20). We have a tendency to adapt to the environment in which we abide most. Those who have grown up solely in the mould of the world have their character set in such a way that it is against God. Only by being in His presence can such anti-God attitudes be counteracted. The invitation to fellowship with Him is the guarantee of our progressive sanctification. And there is not only joy in His Presence but love, peace, goodness, gentleness, kindness, mercy, self-control, and every other attribute of God’s Spirit.

Through sin, humankind became separated from God. But now, through Christ, the ability to return to His Presence, into fellowship with Him – into the very Garden of Eden, as it were – has been opened to us again. It is only in His presence that all of the good attributes of His Spirit are available to us. This highlights more importantly the place of the Communion Table, which signifies not just the death of Christ but the effect of His death: reestablishment of communion with God, of fellowship with Him.

Access to God’s Presence does not however mean that the Christian will never experience moments of low emotions, but not for an appreciable duration of time if we continue in fellowship with God, and do not neglect the fellowship of believers: “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb.10:25). There could be benefits to occasional Interludes of low seasons: they’ll motivate us to refocus on the reality of what God is working and doing in us. The revelation of His Presence will pull us out of the doldrums into Fullness of Joy.