KOINONIA - Fellowship

Help, I need somebody,
Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need somebody, help.

Sound familiar? No, not the song, we all know the song, "Help" by the Beatles. I'm asking if this has ever been a familiar cry of your heart?

It's so important to be connected to somebody. Not just connected to anybody, but to people who genuinely care about you, people who love you. It's these relationships, with people that care about you, that will hold you up in difficult times.

Recently my wife Patsy and I went through an emotionally draining and anxious time in our family. It was a situation that we had little or no control over, and no say in the outcome at all, yet it would affect our family for years to come. We were feeling paralyzed. During this time, all we could do was cry out to Jesus and pray. Thank God we have positioned ourselves to be in a place of fellowship, or "Koinonia" where there are caring people who love us enough to hold us up, and believe with us for God's best outcome.

The New Testament church used the Greek term "koinonia" to describe this type of fellowship, or community. These early Christians had a communion with God that allowed them to share their common experiences of joys, fears and sorrows. Because of this fellowship, those who were bound together in Christ believed their true wealth was not in what they had, but in what they were able to give to each other (not necessarily material things). Koinonia is never passive in its correct application, it is always linked to action, not just being together, but also doing something together.

I recently taught a message on a Sunday morning using the Gospel of Mark, chapter 2, verses 1-11, as my text. The story is about a paralyzed man who needed a healing. Jesus came to his town teaching and healing people. It paints a mind picture of Jesus standing in a house full of people, so many people in fact, that they are crowded outside the doorway and around the outer walls of the house. The paralyzed man had four friends, people who cared for him and obviously loved him, they loved him enough to carry him on a stretcher to the place where Jesus was. You see, because of his physical condition, the man was unable to get to the Lord on his own and needed his friends to carry him there.

These friends went to some extraordinary steps to put their buddy in front of Jesus (read the story, it's an awesome display of love, perseverance and faith). What happened next was the main point of my message: verse 5 says, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'son your sins are forgiven you'." and then in verse 11, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." He was healed!! And Jesus stated plainly that it was because of their faith, the faith of his friends that he healed him.

Couldn't we all use friends like these? Someone to stand in the gap for us when we are going through our own personal trials? Yes, of course, because we never know when we will be the one on the stretcher, layed out with some form of paralysis. But where do you find such people, and how do you know they will be there when you need them?

The guy in this story suffered from a physical paralysis but, there are other types of paralysis that people suffer from that are less obvious to the casual observer. Things that can devastate us and bring our normal everyday life to a screeching halt. It could be an emotional paralysis, a social or relational paralysis, or even a spiritual paralysis. Regardless of the issue, it could make you feel like you can't move and you don't know what to do next.

It's at this time in a persons life that koinonia is needed. It's fellowship in action, it's a loving friend carrying you to the foot of the cross. A friend or group of friends whose faith you can lean on, people who care about you and will encourage and support you through your difficult times. Friends that can pray for you and bring you to Jesus so your healing can take place and your needs can be met. In order to have this type of friend though, you have to be this type of friend.

Philippians 2:1-5 says..."If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

This verse describes Koinonia! So where do you find such fellowship? How can you be sure people will be there when you need them? First of all, you must position yourself around folks that share the same values and priniciples you believe in. People who abide by the standards that you live by, that believe in and serve God and his Word. Next, be a part of a church fellowship where you're involved in ministry. Then, be a person who uplifts others in their time of need. That's how it comes back to you, that's how others will know when your hurting and in need of a helping hand. When your connected on a regular basis you get to know people and they get to know you. You become that type of friend, you become a part of that fellowship in action, that Koinonia.

I'm so greatful for the fellowship of the believers, the friends I have in the faith, and my church family that are always there when needed. It's a blessing to know that I don't have to deal with all of life's challenges alone. To know that there are people who care enough to carry me to the Lord, when necessary. It's also a blessing to be used of God to lift others in their time of need.

What about you? Do you have this Koinonia fellowship available to you right now? Have you positioned yourself to be blessed and to bless others? Or, would you say that you've gone through some difficult times in your life lately and felt like you were all alone? Well, I want to encourage you to be a part of a church family in your community. Find a place to be connected. Are you in a place like that today? If not, or your in the area, you're always welcome to come and visit us at Desert Reign Church in Downey, allow us to minister to you, or just be your friends in the faith. Nevertheless, there is no need for you to stand alone any longer, but be proactive and get connected.

God Bless and Press On!

Larry

This is just one aspect of the importance of being part of a church family, of having that Koinonia fellowship.