Fellowship
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
I know it’s been a couple of weeks
Since we were in this letter that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians.
But you will recall that it is a letter all about encouragement.
After starting the Thessalonian church, Paul was abruptly forced to leave,
But never lost his concern for this young church.
When Paul finally received word from the Thessalonians
It was that they stood strong, and this encouraged Paul.
His ministry was not in vain.
The Thessalonians really did get saved.
And in turn Paul has written this letter to encourage them.
And we have already seen several aspects of that encouragement.
• There has been the gentle encouragement of a mother that seeks to pick up when one is down.
• There is the strong encouragement of a father that seeks to push one forward.
• There has been the discerning encouragement of a brother in Christ, relaying how he sees God at work in them.
And we have learned not only how to encourage, but the importance of it.
Tonight we continue in our study of this letter.
And we are faced with another sort of defense text.
Throughout chapter 2,
While Paul has been encouraging the Thessalonians,
There has also been an obvious element
Where Paul has been defending his ministry.
No doubt the people who ran Paul out of town, are now doing everything they can to undermine him, so as to destroy the faith of the Thessalonians.
And Paul has been addressing those accusations.
In our text tonight it is apparent that one of the accusations against Paul
Was that he simply did not like or care for the Thessalonians.
You can almost hear the questioning of their opponents.
Where is Paul in all of this?
Why did Paul leave so fast?
Why won’t Paul come back?
And that is an issue that Paul is addressing.
For us, we also learn some facts about fellowship.
It is overly obvious to realize that
Fellowship is an integral part of encouragement.
And so fellowship is an important function of the church.
In fact, that is one of the things we are the most impressed with in regard to the early church.
Acts 2:42-47 “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
There are obviously many noteworthy attributes about that early church,
But it is hard to read without being amazed at their degree of fellowship.
They wanted to be around each other, even if it meant financial sacrifice.
They wanted to learn together, They wanted to grow together,
They wanted to worship together, They wanted to serve together.
Fellowship was a vital part of the early church.
And we know that fellowship is important to us as well.
When Jesus prayed for His church on the night before He was crucified.
John 17:20-21 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
When Paul wrote to the Ephesians he said:
Ephesians 4:1-6 “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”
And when fellowship fell out of order,
Paul wrote to challenge churches to repair it.
Philippians 4:2-3 “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”
And so we know that the church was meant
To work under an umbrella of healthy fellowship.
None of us are independently the body of Christ,
But corporately we are the body,
And we must learn to fellowship together with one another.
Psalms 133 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing — life forever.”
The interesting thing in this letter is that
It was Paul’s desire to fellowship that was called into question
By those who sought to undermine his ministry.
They were accusing Paul of not being concerned with the Thessalonians,
With not caring to spend time with them,
With not being interested in unity, and with not desiring fellowship.
And so as Paul writes to defend himself against this claim,
We also learn some facts about fellowship.
There are 4 things I want to show you in our text tonight in regard to fellowship.
#1 IT IS DESIRED IN OUR SPIRIT
1 Thessalonians 2:17
We know based on reading the book of Acts that
Paul was forced to leave Thessalonica prematurely.
And now it is obvious that the accusation was that Paul wanted to leave
Because he didn’t care about the Thessalonians.
Paul says nothing could be further from the truth.
“But we, brethren, having been torn away from you for a short while”
“torn away” comes from a word
That was used to speak of a parent who lost a child.
It was a separation that no one wanted.
And Paul said that is the type of separation I had from you.
I didn’t willfully leave.
I didn’t want to go.
I was “torn away from you”
They forced me to leave, but it was not what I desired.
As happy as Carrie and I are to be in Spur,
There will always be some in Crawford
To whom we have this same sentiment towards.
We didn’t want to leave then, nor were we trying to, but someone else forced it to occur, and there are those whose fellowship we still miss.
And to this day, if someone calls me with questions about that church,
I find that my heart in some regards is still there.
That is what happened to Paul.
But even though Paul was torn away, he wants them to know that it was “in person, not in spirit”
In other words, the only thing gone is our body,
You can rest assured that our heart remains.
It is similar to what Paul said to the Philippians.
Philippians 1:7-8 “For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”
It further indicates an unnatural separation.
Circumstances did not allow Paul to remain in Thessalonica,
But he still cared about the direction of that church.
Furthermore Paul said that he is
“all the more eager with great desire to see your face.”
Now I wouldn’t lie, there are some in Crawford
That I don’t particularly desire to run in to,
But there are some, that I would absolutely love to see.
And this is what Paul reveals as well.
“I was forced to leave, but my spirit remains,
And I would love to see you again.”
Contrary to the reports that Paul didn’t care,
He assures the Thessalonians that this was not true.
And from Paul’s example we learn our first attribute of fellowship,
And that is that it is desired in the spirit of true believers.
One of the attributes of a genuinely saved person
Is a desire to fellowship with other believers.
Love of the brethren is one of the indicators of saving faith
Leo let me listen to Jerry Clower’s “Ain’t God Good”.
“I cannot conceive of a Christian not going to church.”
True believers ought to desire the company of other true believers.
There is a bond, there is a fellowship there.
WHY DO THEY DESIRE IT?
I think Paul states that pretty well in his letter to the Romans.
Romans 1:8-12 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; 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.”
Paul said I want to come to you to encourage you,
And I want you to encourage me.
Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.”
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
It wasn’t all about saving the lost, or pushing the Romans to greatness. Paul also wanted them to help him in his endeavor to serve Christ.
He needed them as well.
Romans 15:32 “so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.”
It is obvious that fellowship is important,
And it is the desire of true believers.
It is desired in our spirit
#2 IT IS LIMITED BY OUR MISSION
1 Thessalonians 2:17
This is the other side of the equation.
And that is there are times when faithfulness to our mission
Requires that there be a momentary separation.
The reason Paul could not continually
Fellowship with the Thessalonians
Was because there was still a mission to accomplish.
A couple of weeks ago in Sunday school we studied the book of Acts
And how it was Paul’s intent to return to all the cities
They had formerly ministered to and fellowship with them a while.
However:
Acts 16:6-10 “They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”
And of course there you notice that it was not the devil
Who hindered the plan of Paul, it was Jesus.
• The reason of course is because there was a Philippian woman praying at the riverside who needed Christ.
• There was a Philippian jailor who was also ripe for harvest.
And someone had to go and share the gospel with them.
And this is one fact that we also learn about fellowship.
Sometimes it is limited, but not because we don’t desire it.
It is limited because our ministry takes us away.
I’m reminded of Paul’s final meeting with the Ephesian elders.
Paul gave them his final exhortations, and also revealed
That they would not fellowship again this side of heaven.
Acts 20:36-38 “When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship.”
Did they desire fellowship?
Absolutely.
Was it possible?
No, Paul still had a mission.
It is indeed a difficult thing that occurs in our church life today.
We have had to say good-bye to some good friends and faithful servants
That God has moved to other places.
I left Chad & Dianah Lewis in Crawford.
I left Chuck & Missy Johnson
I left Dennis & Angela Westerman
I left Scott Dosier
I left Roy & Jean Smith
I left John & Linda Heaton
And even serving in Spur, separation comes.
Jason & Laura Mayfield
Bobby & Gerri Azam
Linda Wyatt
And lots of young men and women who moved off to go to school
And if we had our way, we would keep them all right here
And fellowship with them forever.
We realize God never intended for us to stay in one place.
God has told us to “Go” and sometimes fellowship is the casualty.
Paul also wanted the Thessalonians to understand that as well.
He didn’t want to leave, but he had to leave.
And that is true about fellowship.
It is Desired in our Spirit It is Limited by our Mission
#3 IT IS OPPOSED BY SATAN
1 Thessalonians 2:18
There are some times when it is obvious that God has brought about
The separation for the purpose of His mission.
And yet other times someone else
Throws the monkey wrench into the plans.
That is the devil, and that had also happened to Paul.
“For we wanted to come to you – I, Paul more than once – and yet Satan hindered us.”
I don’t want to give the devil more credit than he deserves,
But it also doesn’t do any of us any favors to sell him short.
I’m always amazed at this movement of binding Satan
And rebuking Satan and running Satan off,
As though he were some sort of weak intimidated foe.
It begs the question why Paul didn’t just bind Satan and walk on by.
The fact is that the church has a great arch-enemy, and he is powerful.
Is he defeated? Yes.
Can he condemn us? No.
But does he still muck things up? Absolutely.
He did for Paul here, and he does for us.
And one of the things Satan hates is fellowship.
WHY?
Well, it is the old “divide & conquer” scheme.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”
Satan knows you are easier to defeat when you are alone.
1 Peter 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
And the lion always seems to try and segregate sheep from the fold.
And we know this is obvious.
In fact, the ultimate punishment that a church
Can inflict upon a sinning brother is what?
Remove them from fellowship.
Matthew 18 says, “let them be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector”
1 Corinthians says, “do not even eat with such a one”
The ultimate punishment the church
Can inflict is to remove a person from fellowship.
WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO?
Well, listen to how Paul phrases the disfellowshipping of a person.
1 Timothy 1:20 “Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.”
1 Corinthians 5:5 “I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
There is a protection to being in the fellowship,
But being removed makes you vulnerable to the affliction of the enemy.
And that is also why Satan loves to separate us from fellowship.
Do you remember the children’s song that used to be taught?
“Excuses, excuses, you hear them every day,
The devil will supply them, from church you’ll stay away”
He loves to stop the fellowship.
He loves to get you on your own.
He loves to keep you from encouraging others.
And that is why he tries to stop it.
And he did Paul in more places than this:
Romans 1:13 “I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.”
You see what Satan is up to.
That is yet another indicator as to how badly we need it.
Perhaps the greatest passage on the necessity of fellowship is:
Hebrews 10:24-25 “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
We need to encourage each other,
But it is awfully hard to do if you don’t go to church.
Later the writer makes a similar statement.
Hebrews 12:15 “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;”
It’s all about encouragement.
And fellowship is necessary if you are to give it.
And that is why Satan loves to hinder the church’s fellowship.
And it grieves me.
We are lucky if people will give us 2 ½ hours on Sunday morning.
Anything more just requires too much time.
“I’ve got to go to Lubbock”
“I’ve got to get ready for work”
“I’ve got this project to finish”
It is sad, because it indicates Satan succeeding
In stifling the fellowship of the church.
We all know church attendance won’t get anyone to heaven.
We are not saved by such works.
But friend skipping church
Is one of the most selfish things you can do.
It doesn’t just affect you.
Sure you need it.
You need the time of praise.
You need the time of prayers.
You need the time of Bible study.
But other people need to see you.
They need your hugs
They need your smiles
They need your encouragement.
And it is awfully hard to give it when you skip the fellowship.
It is important.
And that is why Satan fights it.
Fellowship:
It is Desired in our spirit
It is Limited by our mission
It is Opposed by Satan
#4 IT IS ENJOYED FOR ETERNITY
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
Fellowship is important
And ought to be enjoyed every time we get the chance.
But as we already noted there are times when it is not possible.
Sometimes because our mission separates us.
Sometimes because the devil hinders us.
And so while we desire fellowship,
And we strive to make it a reality whenever possible,
We know that in this life we may never fully enjoy it.
But we will in heaven.
And Paul wanted to remind the Thessalonians of this truth as well.
Right now we are separated for reasons beyond our control,
But there is coming a day when we will fellowship.
“For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”
Some see it is as strange that Paul would not say
That Jesus was his hope and joy and crown.
They see it as strange that Paul would indicate the Thessalonians
As his “glory and joy”
But it’s not strange when you understand
The context of where Paul said it.
Paul wants the Thessalonians
To know that he has no lack of devotion to them.
He loves them, and just as he longs to be with Christ,
He longs to be with them as well.
And on the day when Christ returns,
The Thessalonians will be a source of glory and joy for him.
In one sense because they are a sort of fruit of his labor.
Similar to the Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 3:1-3 “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
Just like the Corinthians, the Thessalonians are a sort of resume for Paul.
And in glory, they will be credentials to the effectiveness of his labor.
But beyond that, they are also a source of joy.
I certainly don’t want to diminish that Christ is the main attraction of heaven, or to take away from the worship that will occur there.
But even now we know that fellowship makes worship even sweeter.
And this won’t be lost in heaven.
Only in heaven there will be no devil to hinder it.
In heaven there will be no mission to delay it.
And this is the final encouragement that Paul gives.
“I know we are separated, and that is not my desire. I desire to be with you, but circumstances and the devil have prevented that. But don’t for a second assume that it indicates a lack of love on my part. In fact I long for eternity where we can fellowship forever.”
HOW ENCOURAGING IS THAT!
It feels good to know other believers
Long for your company and desire your fellowship.
Be sure and give that encouragement to someone else as well.
Be faithful in fellowship.
Attend church.
Spend time with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Use that time to let iron sharpen iron
And even when that fellowship is not possible,
Then look forward to glory where the fellowship will never end.
Psalms 133 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing — life forever.”
