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. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.  1 John 1:3-4

The theme for the scriptures today is all about fellowship, as the Apostle John says “That you may have fellowship with Us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” Can you truly be part of the body of Christ if you don’t fellowship with the Church? I ask this question because I get many people who identify as Christians who refuse to fellowship with other Christians, not only is this not Biblical, but it’s a hindrance to your sanctification

Now you might say , I can’t fellowship with this group of people, they are not like me, we have nothing in common. That is the beauty of the Church, we are all united through Christ, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, if you are a child of God you are part of the body of Christ. To neglect the Church is to neglect Christ himself, as he is the head of the Church body (Colossians 1:18)

Fellowship is an essential part of your Christian walk, God never intended for you to walk alone, God never created you to be alone, that’s why God designed the Church, a family of God united through Christ by the Holy Spirit. Does that mean the Church is going to be perfect? Of course not, we are all sinners , if your looking around your going to find alot of issues, because we are all flawed humans, but we put our faith in Christ for our salvation, we are filled and led by the Holy Spirit, to serve and love the best we can. There is a great mysterious beauty within the Church, as the Bible says “Don’t forsake the assembly of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10.:25)

And then we have the fellowship with God, fellowship with the Father, fellowship with the Son, fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we are all united together. This is why you need to be Born Again (John 3:3) you need the Holy Spirit living inside of you, unified with God. Sometimes you might feel like God is far away, this is why you also fellowship with the Church, God the Holy Spirit living inside of the great multitude using the spiritual gifts that have been given to us (Romans 12, 1 Cor. 12)

I would like to end with the words of the Apostle James “ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16[j]Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed (James 5:13-16)

You can’t do any of this by yourself, if you are in Christ, you are part of the Body of Christ, you can’t forsake your own body, fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ, fellowship with God in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen!