Category Archives: Fellowship

Bible, Comfort, Encouragement, Fellowship, Listening, Scripture

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

ROMANS 1:12

“that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.”

We all need encouragement. I get that from my friends and family. I get that from my wife. But most of all, I get that from the Lord. He is always seeking to build me up and make me more like Jesus. If I would only listen more closely, that could happen more easily. But I allow my own self-interest and self-indulgences to get in the way. Those can also block the encouragement from others. Listen to Paul’s words in today’s verse.

He uses a Greek word for “may be encouraged” that is only used once (right here) in the New Testament. It comes from three Greek words. The word is sumparakaleó (sum+para+kaleo). The Topical Lexicon says this about this word. “The term emphasizes reciprocity: encouragement is not delivered from a superior to an inferior but shared among believers who stand shoulder to shoulder. The prefixed prepositions συν- (with) and παρά- (alongside) intensify the core verb καλέω (to call), yielding a picture of believers summoning one another to persevere in faith, hope, and love.” That is a great breakdown of this once-used word.

APPLICATION

The writer of Hebrews expresses a similar idea in Hebrews 10:24-25. “24 and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Just going to church and seeing other believers can encourage you and encourage them. We are on this journey together.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Paul writes a similar thought.  “Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.” Paul also shows this idea in 2 Corinthians 1:4 when he tells us to comfort each other. “who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

We have an obligation to encourage each other, to bring comfort to one another. How can you do that? By listening to a hurting friend? By praying for someone who is in need? By just fellowshipping with other believers? Find a way this weekend to live out Romans 1:12. I promise you will be encouraged, as well.

Lord, thank You for sending others into my life to encourage me. Help me do the same for others.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Communion, Fellowship, Partner, Scripture

JOIN US

PHILIPPIANS 1:5

“in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.” 

Any time I get asked to join something, whether a trip somewhere or a group meeting, I have to ask myself two questions. One – Does this have any eternal value? Two – Do I have time for this? Those two questions usually give me good guidance. I want to be about my Father’s business, don’t you?

Paul was appreciative of the Philippians’ “participation in the gospel.” From what Paul wrote here it seems they had been from the beginning. The Greek word translated “participation” is koinonia. This word is also translated as fellowship, communion or sharing. But one thing is clear – it is not just a casual involvement. Koinónia implies a sense of intimacy and genuine love.

APPLICATION

In 1 Corinthians 1:9, Paul uses this word again. “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” I have heard it said that true koinonia isn’t about cookies and Kool-Aid. It’s about being connected to something bigger than you. We all need koinonia, whether we want to admit it or not.

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians we read this in chapter 13 and verse 14. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” Some versions use the word “communion” instead of “fellowship” here. Communion gives more of the intimacy in the relationship. The Holy Spirit dwells within you, if you are a believer. You can’t get much more intimate.

Finally, in 1 John 1:3, 6-7, we see John using koinonia to refer to fellowship with each other and God the Father and Jesus. “3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” So, join the family of God in sweet communion and fellowship and together we can fight this battle and walk in victory.

Lord, I desire fellowship with You and other believers.

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Abiding, Access, Bible, Blessing, Church, Fellowship, Heirs, Members, Partakers, Scripture

FELLOWS

EPHESIANS 3:6

“to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,”

Last night I had the privilege to attend a meeting with about 70 men here in Knoxville. I watched these men during the evening and was so encouraged at their fellowship. Many of them knew each other from the ministry where I serve, Every Man A Warrior. These guys hugged each other, shook hands, laughed and just generally enjoyed the night. What was amazing, though, was to see how they welcomed the other guys who were new to this. They made them feel welcomed and like, well, one of the fellows.

Don’t you just love this verse today? Paul tells the Ephesians that they are now fellow heirs, fellow members and fellow partakers. That’s a lot of fellows! In the Greek text, the word “fellow” does not occur. Each time it is really the preposition, sun or syn, which means to be closely identified with. You’ve heard me say it before that this preposition is that inseparable, permanent “with.” Paul wants us to know that these positions we are now in will always be that way.

APPLICATION

“Fellow heirs” is the Greek word sugkléronomos, which means “joint-heir; used of believers sharing in the inheritance of the heavenly Father with (through) the chief heir, Jesus Christ.” (HELPS Word studies). We will share jointly in the inheritance of Christ. There will be no dividing the inheritance. We will all share it together forever.

“Fellow members” is the word sussómos, which literally means joint body. The body refers to the body of Christ as in the community of believers which make up the church. Some denominations think they are the only ones who will be in that body, that they are the only true church. Paul says differently here. If you have believed in Jesus and have given your life to Him, you are a permanent part of that body. Romans 10:9-10 tells us, “9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

The final “fellow” is “fellow partaker.” This is the word summetochos which means to be changed having taking part in something. The promise of Jesus Christ presented to us in the Gospel. The word is only used here and later in Ephesians 5:7 where it is used in a negative way. Let’s back up to verse 6 to get the context. “6 See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them;”

You are a fellow heir, member and partaker. Enjoy it!

Father, thank You for bringing me into the fold as an heir, a member and a partaker.

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Agreement, Allies, Bible, Fellowship, Hand, Integrity, Loyalty, Partner, Relationships, Scripture

RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP

GALATIANS 2:9

“and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.”

A handshake – it used to mean something. Many a deal was made just by a simple handshake between individuals. A man’s word was his bond. That handshake meant each man would follow through on what they had agreed upon. No paperwork was required. No lawyer was needed. My dad had that kind of reputation in my hometown. Jack Willis’ word was enough. That’s the kind of man I strive to be.

When James, Peter and John gave Paul and Barnabas the “right hand of fellowship” they were agreeing to support them in their mission to the Gentiles. They were saying We trust you to carry out the mission we have agreed on. They recognized them as fellow-laborers for Christ. Whether this was done privately or in public, this handshake was a formal agreement between them. Paul believed them and was supported by them.

APPLICATION

Perhaps you have given that “right hand of fellowship” to someone. What does that mean to you? Will you support that individual in their walk with the Lord? We need each other to accomplish God’s kingdom work here on earth. You and I can’t possibly do this all by ourselves.

There is a passage in Hebrews 10 that is often quoted to encourage each other to attend church. Look at verses 24 and 25 and see what you observe there. “24 and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Do you want to know what I see there? I’m going to tell you anyway. I see “encourage one another in love and good deeds.” I see “encouraging one another.” It’s not just about not missing church. We need to be coming alongside each other. We need to be offering that “right hand of fellowship.” Why? Because the day is “drawing near.”

Paul has been talking a lot about allies, companions and partners in Galatians. I believe he wanted the Galatians to know that he was not a one man operation. He was co-laboring with Titus, Barnabas, Peter, James and John. And just like Paul, we need others to work alongside for the cause of Christ. Who is that person(s) in your life?

Thank You, Lord, for my partners in ministry all over the world.

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Accountability, Bible, Boasting, Calling, Correction, Fellowship, Glorify, Gospel, Scripture

NOT MY WORDS

GALATIANS 1:11

“For I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is not of human invention.”

Have you ever had to deliver a message to someone from someone else that you knew had the potential to upset that person? How do you start that message? I have a message for you from ________. Now, understand that these are their words, not mine. Am I right? Of course, I am. We want to make sure they know that we are just the messenger.

In verse 11 today, Paul is telling the Galatians something similar. He is telling them that the message that he preached to them didn’t come from him or any other person. Where did it come from? It came from God! The phrase, “not of human invention,” is literally “is not according to man” in the Greek. Paul didn’t get it from Peter or James or any other person. The message, the gospel message is straight from God.

APPLICATION

This is why it is so important for us to be very careful when we handle the Word. I recall Paul’s word in 2 Timothy 2:15. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” In 2 Corinthians 2:17, Paul further explains the need to handle the Word correctly. “For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.”

Handling God’s message to mankind is a weighty job. Far too many people mishandle it. They take what is the truth and make it their own truth. They add to or take away from it. This is what Paul was battling in the Galatian churches. The Judaizers would come in and require these new believers to adapt what they had learned and add certain requirements that had nothing to do with the original message of the Gospel.

Today, we risk the same thing when we require people to jump through our hoops in order to achieve the righteousness of Christ. The Gospel is simple. Christ intended it that way. Don’t complicate it.

Thank You, Lord, for keeping the message of salvation simple of all mankind.

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Bible, Eyes, Fellowship, Looking, Love, Radiance, Reflection, Scripture

THE APPLE OF HIS EYE

ZECHARIAH 2:8

“For the LORD of armies says this: ‘After glory He has sent me against the nations that plunder you, for the one who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.’”

You have heard, I am sure, lots of moms or dads say that their child was the apple of their eye. What does that mean? Well, I googled it. Here’s what I found. “The phrase comes from a Hebrew expression that literally means ‘little man of the eye. ‘ It refers to the tiny reflection of yourself that you can see in other people’s pupils. To be the apple of someone’s eye clearly means that you are being focused on and watched closely by that person.”

That certainly applies to today’s verse. Israel was the apple of God’s eye. He was focused on theme. He was watching them closely. So, if anyone touched them, they were touching God as well. We know what that means. If the enemies of Israel touched her, they were going to receive the full wrath of God. What a promise Zechariah was delivering to an exile weary people.

APPLICATION

I decided to see where else that phrase “apple of my eye” was used in Scripture. I found three other locations. The first is in   Psalm 17:8. “Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” Another was in Deuteronomy 32:10. “He found him in a desert land, and in the howling wasteland of a wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He guarded him as the apple of His eye.” And the third is in Proverbs 7:2. “Keep my commandments and live, And my teaching as the apple of your eye.”

Those first two are how God sees us – as the apple of His eye. If you are a child of the King, that is a given. But the third is referring to how we see God’s Word. We should have it as the apple of our eyes. We should watch it closely. We should focus on it. And Who is the Word? Jesus. Jesus should be able to see Himself in our eyes.

How close are you to the Lord today? We know He sees us as the apple of His eye, but are you seeing Jesus that way? Is He the apple of your eye. Come closer. Let Him look intently into your eyes. He wants to see Himself in you. Come closer. Come closer still. Now then – there’s that reflection He is looking for. And now you can see yourself in His eyes. You are the apple of His eye.

I shall look closely at You, O Lord. I want to see Jesus as the apple of my eye.

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Abiding, Bible, Choices, Confession, Darkness, Fellowship, Forgiveness, God's Will, Power, Scripture

FROZEN SUN AND MOON

HABAKKUK 3:11

“Sun and moon stood in their lofty places; they went away at the light of Your arrows, at the radiance of Your flashing spear.”

June 21 is normally the longest daylight day of the year where I live. The sun seems to hang in the sky forever. But I cannot imagine the scene in Joshua 10 when the sun literally stood still. “12Then Joshua spoke to the LORD on the day when the LORD turned the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, ‘Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, at the Valley of Aijalon!’ 13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the Book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hurry to go down for about a whole day. 14 There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.”

Habakkuk, perhaps, is recalling that story. He knows God has that kind of power. His point in today’s verse is to remind the people of God’s omnipotence. He even holds the sun and moon in His hand and does with them as He wishes. If that is so, then surely, He can handle what they are going through.

APPLICATION

What do you believe? Do you believe God can handle your problems? I told someone this week, “Whatever is over your head is under His feet.” God can and will handle it, in His time. But you must believe. You must trust the God of the universe to carry you through whatever it is you are facing.

My family has been through a lot in the past dozen years. They watched me go through two stem cell transplants for an incurable disease with no guarantee I would pull through. But in the midst of that, we trusted our Lord. We knew whatever happened, He was in control.

The same God who turned His back on His Son and caused the world to go into darkness because of the sin which Jesus took on Him is the same God who will not work in your life as He desires until your sins are confessed and you are in fellowship with Him. Turn to Him today and confess your sins to Him. Let Him wash you clean and work in your life today. Come out of the darkness.

Father, today I bring all my sins and transgressions to You. Forgive me, Lord, and set me back on the right path.

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Accountability, Anger, Belief, Bible, Confession, Devil, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Fellowship, Godliness, Salvation, Scripture

ANGER

JONAH 3:9

“‘Who knows, God may turn and relent, and turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish.’”

I am not an angry man. I seldom get angry. It is my prayer that my anger is only shown in situations where the innocent are treated unfairly. Abortion angers me. Innocent lives are snuffed out, and that breaks my heart. But this blog is not about abortion. It is about anger.

The king of Nineveh recognized God’s burning anger against his kingdom because of their evil ways. He knew God would judge them for this unless they confessed that and turned to Him. Look what he says. He said, “Who knows, God may turn and relent…that we will not perish.” He was asking the Lord to forgive them. By his and his people’s actions, they showed their repentance.

APPLICATION

God is not angry at you. Let me get that straight. He is saddened by your sin. Before you come to Christ, the penalty for your sins is eternal damnation. The good news, though, is that Christ died for those sins. God’s anger has been quenched through the blood of His own Son. Now, He just wants you to trust Him and trust His Word.

It is much like we parents feel when our children disobey us. We did not hate our children because of this. It saddens our hearts when they disobey. We want them to obey us because they love us. We want them to obey us because they want to please us. That’s our heavenly Father. He loves seeing His children do His will.

I am so thankful that the anger of God isn’t an issue for me. I know my sins have been paid for through the blood of the Lamb. His wrath has been abated. I am free to live for Him and through Him. It is my goal each day to live in such a way to honor Him in all I do. I pray that is your goal as well. Ephesians 4:26-27 is a great passage on anger. It reads, “In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger and do not give the devil a foothold.” Live by that.

I will not be angry today, Lord. I will trust You to help me control my anger.

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Bible, Blessing, Encouragement, Fellowship, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, Refreshing, Scripture

REVIVED

HOSEA 14:7

“Those who live in his shadow will again raise grain, and they will blossom like the vine. His fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.”

Growing up in farm country, I have seen the results of droughts and floods. The crops the farmers grow are dependent on rainfall. Large farms may invest in irrigation systems, but even they are dependent on regular rainfall. I have seen corn fields begin to wither only to be revived again when they get enough rain. The refreshing rains keep the crops alive and thriving.

Hosea is comparing Israel to such a scene. He is referring to their revival as a nation once they return to God. Grain and wine were important to that culture. In fact, they were pretty dependent on them. So, those who heard this could relate to what Hosea was saying. God was going to bring the nation back from despair and bless them.

APPLICATION

Our spirits need reviving every so often. It’s easy to get caught up in the pressures of this world and lose sight of the promises of God. Don’t let the world control you. You, as a child of God, have the strength and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. You can stand tall as the corn and produce grapes like the vine. God wants you to walk confidently in this world.

To do that, you must stay close to the source of nourishment. You can’t survive the deserts of life without the Word. It’s refreshing truths can sustain you. Meditating and memorizing His Word can give you just what you need when you face those challenging times. There is no substitute for it. Let it pour over you.

I can’t imagine going a day without getting my “dose” of God’s Word. I’m not talking about picking up a devotional and reading it. I mean digging into a verse or two of Scripture and applying it to my life. That’s why I write this blog. I need to do this. I wake up each day knowing I have the privilege to do this. It gives me life. Will you join me?

Thank You, Lord, for giving me the water of the Word. It refreshes my soul each day.

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Abiding, Affection, Bible, Blessing, Death, Encouragement, Fellowship, God's Will, Heaven, Judgment, Promises, Redemption, Reward, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture

AND DIED

HOSEA 13:1 

“When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but through Baal he incurred guilt and died.” 

My parents have both died. We grieved. We were heartbroken. Death seems to be so…final. But for a believer, it isn’t. My parents loved Jesus. We know they were instantly carried into the arms of Jesus. We did not “lose” them. We know exactly where they are and long to join them one day. 

Ephraim also died, but his death wasn’t so joyful. Ephraim had rebelled against God and was proud of themselves. They had invited Baal and Ashtoreth into their land. They had built elaborate temples for them both. His trembling wasn’t in humility. That would have been appropriate. Judgment was sure and certain. 

APPLICATION 

Pride certainly comes before the fall. How do we guard against being so prideful, like Ephraim? Our natural tendency is to be boastful and full of ourselves. That’s our sin nature. We fight that our entire lives. Outside the grace of God, we have no hope. 

But thanks be to God, through Jesus we can come before the throne of God and bow. Because of Christ’s shed blood we have forgiveness. Now, our trembling is in humility and gratefulness. We recognize God’s preeminence in our lives. We are nothing without Him. He gives us purpose. 

I want that, don’t you? I desire to be held in His arms and loved. My parents walked into their heavenly reward the day they died. Christ’s warm embrace enveloped them. And as they entered, I am sure they heard those words we all long to hear. “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into your reward.” 

Father, thank You for welcoming my parents. Love them well. 

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