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Fellowship: A Spiritual Matter

Fellowship: A Spiritual Matter

 2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Fellowship is a spiritual interaction between two or more souls. It’s connecting with other similar spirits. There is only one of two spirits which we can be; a spirit of God or a spirit not of God, a spirit of truth or a spirit of lies, a spirit of light or a spirit of darkness. Which kingdom we belong to and foster faith in signifies what type of spirit we are, (see post). Because of this polarization, we can only connect with those of the same spirit; a spirit of light can’t connect with a spirit of darkness … And what communion has light with darkness?

Last week I talked about how we engage in “buying and selling” to increase our faith within the two different kingdoms. (see post)

We “buy and sell” with the kings of the kingdoms, but we also trade (A form of “buying and selling” in which two or more have something to offer and exchange; the beliefs they bought) with those who are in the kingdom, another word for trading is fellowshipping.

Matthew 25:16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

We trade (fellowship) with those of the same kingdom as we are. For example, the man who has chosen to “buy and sell” faith from Christ can only trade with others who are “buying and selling” from that same kingdom because God’s truth and wisdom are contrary to the world’s. 1 Corin 3: 19, 2 Corin 1:12 As we commune with others buying from the Holy Spirit and we exchange what we’ve been learning, this exchange affects our faith.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

We increase our faith by 1. “buying and selling” with the king of the kingdom and 2. trading (fellowshipping) with others of the same kingdom. Following the example from my previous post, if we are trading with others who believe working 16 hours a day leads to the fulfillment of their desire, then our faith will be strengthened in that worldly belief. If we are trading with others who are following God’s wisdom and enjoying true rest and the power of God working in their lives, our faith in His wisdom will be strengthened.

Matthew 18:20″For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”  (what kingdom you increase faith in is the one you bear the name of)

For fellowship/trading to occur both have to be “buying and selling” individually from the king, because then they have something to exchange and trade. If one is buying from Christ and the other not, no exchange can take place. This disunity is why people can hear the truth from others, and not be changed by it. Someone can hear one speak of the truth, but it falls on deaf ears because they are seeped in “buying and selling” with the kingdom of lies jading what they hear. These people haven’t been buying the gold refined in fire from Christ, the Word of God, but have been “buying and selling” with the kingdom of darkness. It’s one or the other. Each one does their own “buying and selling” from the king, then they can fellowship. If two souls’ kings are different, there is no fellowship, there is no trade.

Matthew 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

We “buy and sell” in every area of our lives. Most everyone is taught to “buy and sell” from the kingdom of darkness from birth.  To move out of the kingdom of darkness, we have to make a choice to start “buying and selling” with the King of  the kingdom of light. John 6:29. As we do, we move away from the kingdom of darkness, its ways and philosophies, until we become aliens in this world, disconnected and consumed with the light of truth. As this happens, our lives start to bear the fruit of kingdom of light; rest, peace, joy, fulfillment, contentment, and love. There is only one kingdom whose ways deliver what it promises, the other is full of lies and manipulation of our hope.

Our faith determines what our lives manifest. Seek to “buy and sell” the truth from the King and fellowship with those who do the same.

 


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Increasing Faith through “Buying & Selling”

Increasing Faith through “Buying & Selling”

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

A middle aged man wakes each morning scanning the Wall Street Journal while he enjoys his caffeine charge. On the train to work, he pours over his latest business magazine, one of many, soaking in the new trends seeking to be the best leader he can be. He’s proficient in implementing what he has learned and is seeing some results; though not enough for the advancement he wants, so he pushes on. After putting in extra hours at the office in hopes to earn a promotion (adding to his responsibility, time at the office, and stress) he heads home and gives the leftover energy and time to his family. He works hard and makes extensive sacrifices for the sake of his family. The next day the hamster wheel begins again. As the years close upon him, he battles between pushing harder and growing apathy as the youthful competition is at his heels. On the weekend, he goes to a conference in his industry in hopes of gaining insight on how to obtain his goals; the ultimate goal being to rest, enjoy his accomplishments and relax. But for now, the sacrifices must be made; it’s just the way it is, or is it?

Another middle aged man wakes each morning and spends time in communion with God as he enjoys his cup of steaming coffee with cream and sugar. He seeks for wisdom and prays for his employees. He receives specific counsel and instruction on pending business issues. He heads out to the office enjoying a relaxing drive after rush hour. He handles problems with astuteness, formulates creative business solutions with ease and proficiency. Because he trusts that God is in control and the provider, an atmosphere of joy, true care for the employees, and rest permeates the office. After a productive day, he heads home at 4PM before the traffic and enjoys an engaging evening with his family. On the weekend, he enjoys doing what he wants and continuing to abide in peace and rest.

Faith is acting on a concept or idea because we believe it will fulfill a hope. One man had faith in the wisdom of “successful” business practices of his effort, the other in God’s wisdom and His work.

Faith is increased in an idea by “buying and selling”.  This exchange is how we manifest “our truth”.

We “buy and sell” when we learn a concept, then mix our belief with it (faith), then act on it and see the results thus gaining more faith than we started with (selling). The process continues, back and forth. One man learned a business concept (put in more hours at the office), believed it would help him reach his goals, and acted on it.  If you receive (buy) the concept that working 12 hours a day will advance you in your career, then you mix your belief with that concept, and act on it and see results and continue in that direction, you are “buying and selling” that concept.  When you see some results, your faith grows that you are on the right path even though your end goal hasn’t been accomplished. Thus, your faith is established and increased in that concept.

We can “buy and sell”, or establish faith, with one of two kingdoms, which I mentioned in a previous post. One kingdom and all its ways are of God, and the other is counter to God. Thus, when we are buying from one, we can’t buy from the other.

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

When we buy from one kingdom, we sell back to the same kingdom with our actions thus we serve that kingdom because we serve its wisdom and ways.  Which kingdom we have cultivated a relationship with, or “buy and sell” with, is the one we have faith in, thus serve and bear the mark or name of. Revelation 13:17, Deuteronomy 30:19

We glorify and worship with our lives the kingdom we “buy and sell” with. The first man chose the kingdom of worldly wisdom, thus serving its ways and king. 1 John 5:19 John 8:44 The second man chose the kingdom of God’s wisdom, thus serving its ways and King.

In Revelation, Christ Jesus tells us to buy gold refined in the fire from Him. Revelation 3:18  He is instructing us to “buy and sell” faith in Him. Gold is our faith. 1 Peter 1:7  The refinement in the fire is the purifying of that faith that occurs as we continue to “buy and sell” and increase our faith through acting on His ways and truths in our lives.

Here is how it works. We learn a concept from the Holy Spirit. With our current level of faith, we act on that concept; we see the positive results and our faith is increased. As we continue this back and forth exchange, faith in God and His ways grows in our lives and our lives bear the fruit of it:  peace, rest, joy, satisfaction, purpose, and unchanging value.

We “buy and sell” from one of the two kingdoms in all areas of our lives; health, relationships, work, hobbies, purpose, value, etc. Our lives will reflect which kingdom we’ve been fostering faith in and much more as the Day of the Lord dawns.

Which kingdom are you buying and selling with? Are you buying gold, which has been refined in the fire, from Christ? Do you experience the riches from having that precious gold? Or are you a serving the one that will never deliver what you truly seek but manipulates your hope to keep you holding on? Only an investment in the Kingdom of God will return to you what you ultimately seek.

Psalm 57:2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.