FELLOWSHIP


A. "AND THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD WALKING IN THE GARDEN IN THE COOL OF THE DAY: AND ADAM AND HIS WIFE HID THEMSELVES FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, AMONGST THE TREES OF THE GARDEN, AND THE LORD GOD CALLED UNTO ADAM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHERE ART THOU?" - Gen. 3:8, 9
  1. The words of our text are a wonderful revelation of God's attitude toward our first parents:
    1. God was lonesome for them, and He sought them out even after they had transgressed His commandment.
    2. It must be noted that it was not man, but God who sought to restore the broken relation.
    3. Fellowship seems clearly indicated in our text.
B. FELLOWSHIP
  1. Man was made for fellowship. This fact is clearly indicated in our text:
    1. "It is not good that the man should be alone" - Gen. 2:18
    2. Christianity stands or falls on the belief in a personal God and the realization of loving fellowship with Him - Rom. 14:7
  2. The earthly sanctuary is a vivid illustration of this truth:
    1. "Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" - Ex. 25:8
    2. The presence of the Lord in the Most Holy was ever a reminder to the worshipper that God loved fellowship with His people.
  3. The coming of the Son of God into the world, dwelling among men, is a further indication of God's desire for the fellowship of His children: John 1:11, 14
  4. The promise of our Lord to be with the believers in their gatherings - Matt. 18:20 - is added evidence of this truth:
  5. His final promise to be with us to the end of time seals the truth of our text: Matt. 28:20
  6. The Bible indicates four ways in which we have fellowship with the Lord:
    1. In meditation and prayer - Luke 6:12; Matt. 14:23; Ps. 63:6
    2. In corporate worship - Heb. 10:25
    3. At the family altar - Job 1:1-5
    4. Visiting the aged and the widows - Matt. 25:36; Jas. 1:27
C. IMPORTANCE OF THIS SUBJECT
  1. Sin breaks fellowship:
    1. That was demonstrated in the experience of Adam and Eve.
    2. Such a break is caused by a sense of shame - Jer. 3:35
    3. By fear caused by sin and guilt.
    4. It seeks to excuse the broken fellowship - Luke 14:18-20; 18:13
    5. By hiding! Hiding is one of the most evident presence of guilt in the life of a sinner.
      1. Some hide from the Lord by keeping themselves occupied with the cares of this world.
      2. Others hide by refusing to heed the voice of invitation - John 8:9; Acts 24:25; Matt. 27:1-6
      3. Some hide themselves from the Lord when they refuse to confess their sins - Ps. 32:2-5
      4. Others flatter themselves and so seek to hide their need of help from above.
      5. Still others hide themselves by blaming others for their attitude - 1 Sam. 15:15
  2. God loves even sinners; seeks to restore the disrupted fellowship:
    1. He made the first move; it was not Adam, but God who sought out the transgressor to restore him to the fellowship of his God.
    2. Note, please, how the Bible uses the word "first" in its relationship to God and man;
      1. "He first loved us" - 1 John 4:19
      2. "Unto you first, God, having raised his Son, sent him to bless you" - Acts 3:26
      3. "Let the children be filled first" - Mark 7:27
  3. The church of God is God's medium to restore the fellowship God loves so much:
    1. Communion service - 1 John 1:3; 2 Cor. 13:14
    2. Fellowship with each other - 1 John 1:6, 7; Phil. 2:1; Eph. 3:9


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