Is your fellowship DANGEROUS?!

Summary

In this enlightening video, Impact Video Ministries addresses the concept of fellowship from a Christian perspective. It emphasizes that fellowship, akin to prayer and engaging with God's word, is powerful and essential for believers. However, fellowship can be a risk if not approached correctly, potentially leading one astray. The video lays out three crucial guidelines for fellowship: engage with the light rather than darkness, fellowship with true believers, and most importantly, maintain a connection with God. These guidelines are supported by biblical references, highlighting the importance of discerning and thoughtful engagement in relationships and spiritual connections.

Highlights

• Fellowship should lead to spiritual growth rather than compromise one's faith. 🤝
• Maintaining a relationship with God through prayer and scripture is critical. 📖
• Connecting with true believers enriches the faith and avoids unnecessary temptations. 💪
• Christians are cautioned against forming deep bonds with those practicing sin. ⚠️
• Engaging with unbelievers should be with the aim to witness and evangelize while remaining spiritually grounded. 🚀

Key Takeaways

• Fellowship is more than just hanging out—it's about deep connections that intertwine minds and hearts. 😊
• Christians are advised to seek fellowship with 'light' and avoid the 'works of darkness' to remain true to their faith. 🌟
• Engaging with true believers is vital to avoid being led astray by those who might present themselves as Christians while indulging in sinful practices. 🚨
• Fellowship with God is paramount, fostering a bond through prayer and understanding His word. 🙏
• Christians are encouraged to love everyone, showing kindness and support, while maintaining their spiritual boundaries. ❤️

Overview

Fellowship among Christians is meant to be a profound connection that goes beyond casual companionship. It's about merging passions, beliefs, and spirits—creating a 'oneness' that reflects one’s faith journey. This perspective urges intentionality in forming these sacred bonds, aligning them with God's light and teachings.

Not every relationship is conducive to spiritual growth. The video emphasizes the danger of fellowshipping with 'works of darkness' or those who engage in unfaithful acts. By illustrating Paul's advice to early Christians, the video reinforces the necessity of discriminating judgment in choosing companions to avoid spiritual derailment.

Beyond earthly relationships, the video underscores the significance of experiencing fellowship with God. This divine connection is cultivated through continuous prayer and engagement with scripture, ensuring that believers remain aligned with divine will and filled with the Holy Spirit. The overarching message is a call to prioritize these spiritual bonds while still extending love and kindness to all, embodying Christ's love on Earth.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Fellowship Fellowship, like prayer and God's word, is powerful and important for a Christian's spiritual life. It is not just casual socializing but involves a deep connection where minds, hearts, and passions intertwine to become one. Misunderstanding or having incorrect fellowship can harm a Christian. Fellowship is about achieving Oneness with others, and it's crucial for believers to understand its true meaning and importance.
• 00:30 - 03:00: Guideline #1: Fellowship with Light The chapter 'Guideline #1: Fellowship with Light' discusses the importance of having fellowship with those who align with Christian values and are not in spiritual darkness. It highlights the need to connect with individuals who are spiritually uplifting and warns against associations that lead one astray. The discussion is based on the biblical reference from Ephesians chapter 5 verse 11, emphasizing to have no fellowship with negative or non-beneficial associations.
• 03:00 - 06:30: Guideline #2: Fellowship with True Believers In the chapter titled 'Fellowship with True Believers', the text references the teachings from the First Epistle of John, emphasizing the dichotomy between light and darkness as metaphors for truth and falsehood. The passage underscores that God embodies light, devoid of any darkness. To claim fellowship with God requires walking in light, which translates to living truthfully. It stresses the importance of fellowship among believers who practice truth, reflecting God's light in their daily lives.
• 06:30 - 09:00: Guideline #3: Fellowship with God This chapter discusses the concept of Fellowship with God, emphasizing that believers are called to avoid darkness and sin. It highlights that fellowship isn't limited to interactions with people but also includes engaging with dark deeds and sin. The chapter references Ephesians 5:1-3, encouraging believers to be imitators of God, walking in love as Christ did.
• 09:00 - 09:30: Conclusion This chapter focuses on the concept of love and sacrifice as embodied by Christ, highlighting his offering to God as a fragrant aroma. It warns against engaging in unclean or covetous behavior, which are inappropriate for saints. The text redefines 'fellowship,' indicating that it is not limited to gatherings at church or social events, but is also expressed through actions and works.

Is your fellowship DANGEROUS?! Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 Fellowship like prayer and God's word is powerful and while it's always useful to pray to the Lord and to learn of his truths in the Bible having Fellowship incorrectly can seriously hurt a Christian why you see Fellowship isn't just hanging out it's being so close to other people that their minds hearts and passions become so intertwined that they become one Fellowship is having Oneness with others and unfortunately many Believers become
• 00:30 - 01:00 so connected with people they aren't supposed to that it results in them being led astray you need to know that God gives very specific guidelines on who we as his children connect ourselves to so in today's video we will be covering three very important guidelines of Fellowship that every follower of God must obey guideline number one you must have fellowship with light Ephesians chapter 5 verse 11 and have no fellowship with
• 01:00 - 01:30 the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them first John chapter 1 verses five to seven this is the message which we have heard from him and declared to you that God is light and in him is no Darkness at all if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and don't practice the truth but if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with
• 01:30 - 02:00 one another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin the first point that we have to make is that we as Believers are called to not be connected to Darkness it's important to note that Fellowship isn't just done with people but can be done with works of darkness and sin notice what it says in Ephesians chapter 5 verses 1 to 3 therefore be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also
• 02:00 - 02:30 has loved us and given himself for us an offering and the sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Aroma but fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not even be named among you as is fitting for Saints oftentimes when we think of Fellowship we think of a hangout with Believers at church like going to a high school or college Fellowship for example but biblically since Fellowship can be done with works
• 02:30 - 03:00 of darkness and we're commanded to not have anything to do with uncleanness we need to ask ourselves am I regularly doing something that's unclean or wrong because if that's the case what's happening is that we're having intimacy or Oneness with darkness when we should be having fellowship with light as children of light guideline number two you must have fellowship with True Believers First
• 03:00 - 03:30 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 9 to 13 when I wrote to you before I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin but I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin or are greedy or cheat people or worship idols you would have to leave this world to avoid people like that I meant that you were not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges
• 03:30 - 04:00 in sexual sin or is greedy or worships Idols or is abusive or as drunkard or cheats people don't even eat with such people it isn't my responsibility to judge Outsiders but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning God will judge those on the outside but as the scriptures say You must remove the evil person from among you this is tough guys Paul is telling Christians from Corinth not to associate
• 04:00 - 04:30 or have anything to do with people who indulge in sexual sin but he wasn't saying to not hang out with unbelievers but to stay away from people who call themselves Christians and are regularly practicing sexual sin Paul commanded Believers to separate themselves from these kinds of Christians look at what Paul tells them in First Corinthians chapter 15 verses 33-34 don't be fooled
• 04:30 - 05:00 by those who say such things for Bad Company corrupts good character think carefully about what is right and stop sinning for to your shame I say that some of you don't know God at all you see being a Christian requires a great deal of sacrifice we are called to be holy as God is Holy and sometimes when we fellowship with people who call themselves Christian but regularly practice sin we can put ourselves in a place of compromise and avoidable
• 05:00 - 05:30 Temptation at the same time please consider Jesus who hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors or the thieves of the time Jesus witnessed taught and evangelized to unbelievers but he did not have fellowship with them and the same must be true with us we should definitely hang out with people who aren't Christian because we want them to be saved and we want to show them who Jesus
• 05:30 - 06:00 is through our life but we must only have Oneness and intimacy with our true Brothers and Sisters in Christ because as God's word says Bad Company corrupts good character and please let me just clarify this one more time we as Believers are called to love everyone we should be giving loving encouraging and supporting everyone around us but Christians must have a
• 06:00 - 06:30 mindset to witness to unbelievers as they spend time with them second Corinthians chapter 6 verses 14 to 15 do not be unequally yoked or team up together with unbelievers for what Fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness and what communion has light with darkness and what a chord has Christ with Belial or what part has a Believer with an unbeliever
• 06:30 - 07:00 all that to say we must only have fellowship with True Believers not with unbelievers or so-called Believers that are really practicing works of darkness we must only have fellowship with people who have the light of God in them and lastly guideline number three you must have fellowship with God look at what Jesus says As he prays to God the father in John chapter 17 verses 20 to 23. I don't pray for these alone but also for
• 07:00 - 07:30 those who will believe in me through their word that they all may be one as you father are in me and I in you that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that you sent me and the glory which you gave me I have given them that they may be one just as we are one I am them and you and me that they may be made perfect in one in that the
• 07:30 - 08:00 world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me finally we learn that we should have Oneness fellowship with God Fellowship isn't just something that we should experience with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ it must also be experienced with God you see when we have faith in God and own the fact that Jesus died for our sins the holy spirit is birthed and is Born
• 08:00 - 08:30 Again within us biblically people who have true faith in Jesus have the Holy Spirit literally dwelling within them and they become one with God through his spirits in the same way that God the Father God the son and God the Holy Spirit are one he desires to have a similar Oneness with us and God's heart despite all our failures and shortcomings
• 08:30 - 09:00 is to draw near to us to encourage us and to love us so all that to say Don't just have fellowship with Christians but also through prayer and reading the Bible how fellowship and experience intimacy with the God who loves you so in conclusion be careful who you fellowship with remember these guidelines have fellowship with light have fellowship with True Believers and have fellowship with God we hope this
• 09:00 - 09:30 helps and we hope you have a wonderful day today God bless foreign [Music]