The Power of Fellowship

The Power of Fellowship | February 2, 2025Pastor Wes MorrisI John 1:1-4 (NLT) We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us.We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.Koinonia: A bond that unites believers with each other and with Jesus.I Corinthians 1:9 (NIV) God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.Acts 2:42 (NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.√  IT STARTS WITH PRIDE.√  WE SLOWLY DRIFT.√  WE ARE VULNERABLE TO THE ENEMY’S ATTACK.“Sin demands to have a man by himself. The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him.”  - Dietrich Bonhoeffer Ecclesiastes 4:8-10 (TLB) I also observed another piece of foolishness around the earth. This is the case of a man who is quite alone, without a son or brother, yet he works hard to keep gaining more riches. And to whom will he leave it all, and why is he giving up so much now? It is all so pointless and depressing.Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he’s in trouble.THE POWER OF FELLOWSHIPRomans 12:5 (NLT) Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.I. TOGETHER WE ARE ENCOURAGED.Hebrews 3:13 (NIV) But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.I Thessalonians 5:11 (MSG) Speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.II. TOGETHER WE ARE CHALLENGED.Proverbs 27:6 (NLT) Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.James 5:16 (NIV) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.III. TOGETHER WE WIN.Exodus 17:10-13 (TLB) So Joshua and his men went out to fight the army of Amalek. Meanwhile Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. And as long as Moses held up the rod in his hands, Israel was winning; but whenever he rested his arms at his sides, the soldiers of Amalek were winning. Moses’ arms finally became too tired to hold up the rod any longer; so Aaron and Hur rolled a stone for him to sit on, and they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset. As a result, Joshua and his troops crushed the army of Amalek, putting them to the sword.