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8-12-2018 Weekly Message

The contemplation of the week: Psalm 56:1-13

Text: 1 John 1:1-4

The title of the Word: Biblical fellowship of the saints with the Lord

          For example, in the case of a fellowship between a person and a person, a relationship is made between the father, mother, and siblings. Those who believe in Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit and become children of God are those who become the  family of God. As to the Saints in the Church who became the dwelling of God through the Holy Spirit, Apostle Paul testified that they are the family of God:

” Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” (Ephesians 2:19)

         Therefore, the gathering of those who receive the Spirit of God the Father and become children of God is a fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, and is also a fellowship with the saints who are already in heaven. Therefore, fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ is done in the Word of God.

         The fellowship between man and man is communion between the giving and receiving word, but  God and the Son Jesus Christ are in heaven, and only fellowship can be done in his Word. Therefore, when we read the word of God and  meditate, spiritual fellowship is  taken place.

           Apostle John testified about Jesus, who showed himself in the flesh as a beloved disciple of Jesus, through knowing more deeply in fellowship than any other disciples.

” 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;)

3That 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.“(1 John 1: 1-3).

           In his Gospel, Apostle John also gave more detailed evidence of what Jesus is like:

” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2The same was in the beginning with God.

3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. “(John 1: 1-4).

         In the beginning, He who was in  heavens as the Word testified that He is Jesus who appeared on earth as a man and God who created light and all things in the earth by His Word. He is also God, and there is life in Him, and that life is a light that gives people eternal life through the Word.

           However, the light of life  shined to the world filled with sin, death, and curses, but the people in darkness could not understand it. At last he appeared to the world in the image of man, though the world was made by him, but the world did not know Him (John 1: 5,9,10).

            Apostle John testified in the beginning that God, who was in the Word, manifested himself in the flesh:

” And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. “(John 1:14)

           Apostle Paul testified of the mystery of God manifested as a man and testified that no one can argue about it:

” And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16)

             God spoke directly to the people he chose before the Bible was written. He spoke to Adam, Noah, and Abraham and Moses and so one. After that, God chose the prophets and told them the words to deliver to the people of Israel whom He  had chosen.

          But knowing that all the souls born after Adam were to be blocked from his word because of sin and to become unable to have fellowship with God, the Word that was with God in the beginning was sent  in the form of man to be a sacrifice offering  like a lamb to take away  the sin of the world.  Jesus, who was  in the beginning as the Word, spoke to the Jews, but no one but the small number of people could understand his word.

           After taking away the sin of the world,  and resurrection, God the Father sent the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ to preach and record the word of God through His apostles. From this point onwards, Jews and Gentiles, without discrimination, whosoever receives the Holy Spirit by believing in Jesus Christ, and having been cleansed of all sins, have made the fellowship of the saints with God the Father and Jesus Christ through the recorded Scriptures of God’s Word. It is also possible to have fellowship with God’s people in the Bible.

          But to the arrogant  people who still do not believe and reject the Word of God, God does not open their eyes and ears to see the light of life in the Word. As the people of Israel  serving idols against God, God sent a message of judgment through the prophet Isaiah:

” And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

10Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. “(Isaiah 6: 9-10)

           That’s right! Those who have not received the Holy Spirit by believing in Jesus Christ cannot understand God’s Word recorded by the Holy Spirit.. Only those who have the Spirit of God can grow spiritually through the fellowship of the saints with God and Jesus Christ in the Word written by His inspiration. Apostle Paul testified about the Bible:

” All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Tim. 3: 16-17)

           King David, who had fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit and in the Word, praised the Word of God by witnessing the joy of giving in to fellowship with God:

“In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

11In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

12Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. “(Psalm 56: 10-12)

             Apostle John testified about the fellowship enjoyed in the Word of God and wanted to give joy to the saints. But he also testified of the thing against the fellowship in God:

” 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.

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

9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “(1 John 1: 7-9).

       Therefore, in order to engage in the fellowship of the saints in the Word of Light, we must be clothed with the Word of Light. Apostle Paul encouraged the Saints of the Church of Ephesus, the family of God, to wear the armor of the Word of God, the arm of light:

” Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13).

Amen! Hallelujah!