“Our Daily Bread”   

http://odb.org/2013/01/14/god-must-love-me-more/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht

1 John 1:3-4… that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.  (NKJV)

The Apostle John wrote this opening scripture, in the later years of his life…estimated to be written in A.D. 90-95…  He was the oldest, and the last living original disciple of Christ; and the only one believed to have died by natural causes…

I believe, because of his old age, we see the Apostle John describe the people he was writing to, as “little children”, in…1 John 2:18 & 28… Here is a link to more information on the Apostle John…  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Apostle

I often write about the importance of having fellowship with other believers…  It begins with finding the right church, with the right biblical church doctrines (see my thoughts for 1/05/13 & 1/08/13); and then attending church regularly, and for the right reason (Hebrews 10:24-25)…   But extra fellowship with believers, through Sunday school before church…Bible studies during the week…prayer night…or any other organized church function, gives believers a chance to learn more about, to pray for, to comfort, to encourage, and to help their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ stay accountable, as part of the body of Christ…

But it is not how many gatherings a believer has, in fellowship with others from their church, which is most important to God…  As the wise old Apostle John writes, in the opening scripture… “truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ”…  It is the personal one on One relationship the sinner develops with Jesus Christ, when Christ becomes their personal Lord and Savior; and then the continued process of sanctification (being conformed to the image of Christ – Romans 8:29), as a Christian is walking in the Spirit, and filled with love of Christ…that is so much more the key to finding true joy and the supernatural peace (Philippians 4:6-7), that I so often write about…

From personal experience, I can testify that for the Christian’s “joy” to remain “full”…they must be continuously walking with the Lord, as a Spirit filled Christian (Ephesians 5:18-20)…  It is the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, which will bring the Christian the fullness of joy…along with hope and peace and God’s richest blessings…

Romans 15:13…  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (NKJV)

John 15:11… “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”  (NKJV)

A lack of love for the Lord, even though a church is filled with fellowship and good works done in the name of the Lord…reminds me of the loveless church of Ephesus… The Apostle John writes about this church, in…Revelation 2:1-7… Here is the link for this important instruction from Christ, through revelation…  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rev2:1-7&version=NKJV

The church of Ephesus was a church the Apostle Paul had spent 3 years teaching… Later on, the Apostle Paul wrote an Epistle to them, known as the Book of Ephesians…  The Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation, some 40+ years after the church of Ephesus had been founded… In Revelation chapter 2, Christ acknowledges that this church of Ephesus had worked diligently to rid the church of evil…  They had persevered with patience and spiritual discernment, to find the false prophets and declare them as liars… Everything was done to preserve Christ’s name and reputation…  But their passion and love for the Lord had grown cold… They had lost their first love, which was Christ Himself…

By not fulfilling Jesus’ first and most important commandment (Matthew 22:36-40), of loving Him with all of their heart, their mind, and their soul…the church was in danger of being closed by Christ…  We read this, in…Revelation 2:5… “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”  (NKJV)

This is a good reminder for all churches…  Loving the Lord first and foremost with all of our being…and gathering in fellowship to honor and glorify the Lord…allowing the love of Christ to spill over into love and concern for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ…is for me, the primary function of a church…  When going to church becomes the fulfillment of a weekly obligation, and works that are done in the name of the Lord, are mechanical orthodoxy…without hearts filled with the love of Christ, churches will not be pleasing the Lord… True joy from fellowship through love of Christ and our brethren, and a God given peace among members, will not be found; and neither will church growth, based upon biblical principles…

Heavenly Father, Your Word reveals that without the fullness of the love of Christ in our hearts; true joy and Your peace, along with a love for others is not possible… Help all of us Lord, to understand that sin will separate us from the sweet fellowship You want with all of Your children… Urge all Christians to walk in the Spirit; and by doing so, I pray that You bless them, so that their “joy may be full”... I pray for this fullness of love that only You can provide, in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…

written by bruce r mills