FELLOWSHIP This term is used by us in the body of Christ in a religious sense.  Fellowship includes the idea of sharing, having something in common, and relationships.  Fellowship is what happens when we experience an association or kinship with those we share things in common.    Firstly, individual Christians are to be involved in relationship building between themselves and God.  This is sometimes called a vertical relationship with God above and you and me below God.  Secondly, Christians are to be involved in building  relationships to both give and receive    support with those who are by God defined as His people.  This is sometimes called a horizontal relationship.  It is in these daily relationships that we can and do experience what Jesus calls “the abundant life”  (Jn. 10:10).  Certainly,  Christians can and do have a relationship with others outside of Christ. These fellowships sadly are temporary whereas fellowship IN Christ is eternal.  As Christians, we must remind one another to keep our priorities in order.  We are to value with joy what our God makes eternal with Him.  We, also, are to be motivated by this fact to do all we can to see that others whose lives we touch are encouraged to become part of God’s eternal family in His one church. Fellowship is not passive.  Life is not supposed to be passive.  Christians have an active living, meaningful, and purposeful relationship with both God and those who are God’s people.  Satan wants to get in the middle of our fellowship and create havoc and brokenness.  If we allow Satan do this, we begin to become poor.  Our relationship with God (His part) is, of course, perfect.  Our part in our relationship with God is flawed because of our sin.  We need to be reminded of this and how in spite of this God  still   extends  His  grace  to  us  as  we pray and repent before Him.  Our parallel relationships are also with others like ourselves sinners.  Satan often wants us to be unreasonable and judgmental of others instead of being God-like and gracious.  God accepts us with our flaws and maintains His fellowship with us.  He wants His children to be like Him and learn to be patient and accepting with people — all the while praying and hoping that those we fellowship can and will repent and change for the better.  God gives us space to grow up, and I believe it is reasonable for us to give space to those we do love to grow up as well. The Greek term KOINONIA translated FELLOWSHIP is found fourteen times in the New Testament.   Consider now some of these passages of Scripture.  On the day the church started, the Christians were determined to continue steadfastly in the Holy Spirit inspired apostolic doctrine just as the church is today.  They continued in an ongoing fellowship and in the breaking of the bread (communion) and in prayers unto God (Ac. 2:42).  Christians are those who are called by God into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord (1 Cor. 1:9).  Early Christians insisted on having     fellowship with other Christians who were in need.  This meant the giving of “money” (2 Cor. 10:16).   Fellowship / relationships are important to those IN Christ.  Saul had the reputation of being a persecutor and murderer.  James, Cephas, and John, as pillars of the church, gave to this one now called Paul the right hand of fellowship.  These have a relationship because of Christ.  The strong ones of the faith accepted and endorsed Paul as a brother (Gal. 2:9).  Because of their fellowship with God and each other, Christians are supposed to help one another regarding the now revealed “mystery” fulfilled IN Christ (Eph. 3:9).   The term, “Communion,” that we use to refer to the Lord’s Supper is a “sharing — in common” KOINONIA event that Christians participate in each first day of the week.  Also, observe that the words, “communion” and “communication,” have some things in common.  When we participate in that “Communion” each first day of the week, we “communicate” with God regarding our faith and ongoing reliance upon Him because of the body and blood of Jesus that was offered at the cross. Fellowship is sometimes spoken of in negative terms.  Christians are not to ever compromise OR to ever have fellowship with that which is devilish or demonic.  This, of course, includes both moral and doctrinal issues which do not represent our Father in heaven (1 Cor. 10:20).  Christians are not to be attached to unbelievers simply because it is not reasonable that righteousness and lawlessness should ever fellowship one another (2 Cor. 6:14).  Christians are directly commanded to, “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them”      (Eph. 5:11).   1 John 1:3-7 uses the term “fellowship” four times.  This is a good study of relationships.  Christians today do have fellowship with the apostles through the   acceptance and application of their writings.  Their writings allow Christians to have fellowship with both God, the Father, and God, the Son (1 Jn. 1:3).  Today there are those who “say” they have fellowship with God and yet walk in darkness (outside inspired apostolic teaching).  These lie — not practicing God’s preserved and revealed truth (1 Jn. 1:6). Fellowship and support need to be important to the Christian.  How important are these things to you?