Let’s Have Fellowship with the Lord

1 John 1:3-7

Hallelujah! Dear beloved congregation, today we will explore what it means to have fellowship with the Lord. The passage we read today introduces us to this fellowship with the Lord. Fellowship with the Lord is the essence of the Church and the ultimate goal of every believer. Therefore, it is crucial for us to deeply understand what this fellowship means, how it is achieved, and what its outcomes are. Today, we will address these questions and examine how fellowship with the Lord should be manifested in our lives.

1. We want to clearly understand what it means to have fellowship with the Lord. When God created man, He made him a being with a spirit. Therefore, every person has a spirit. The role of the spirit is to have fellowship with God, who is Spirit. However, due to sin, the spirit of every person died. As a result, in a state of spiritual death, it is impossible to have fellowship with God. The spirit must be made alive to have fellowship with God and to be spiritually alive. Even if the body is alive, if the spirit is dead, the person is spiritually dead. Let’s read the Scripture verses on the screen.

Matthew 8:22: “But Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.'” How can the dead bury the dead? Here, the “dead” refers to those who are spiritually dead. This statement reveals that those who do not follow the Lord are spiritually dead, even if their bodies are physically alive. It is by following the Lord that the spirit is made alive.

Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” The word “trespasses” here refers to sins that violate God’s law, and it is these sins that cause the spirit to die. Salvation is the act of making the spirit alive for those who believe in the redemptive grace of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

John 5:24: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” When a person who is spiritually dead hears and believes the words of the Lord, their spirit is made alive, and they pass from death to life.

Romans 8:11: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” This means that because of eternal life, the corrupted and decayed body will be resurrected into a glorious body through the Holy Spirit.

At this time, I pray that all of you will discern whether your spirit is dead or alive. And I pray that you will become spiritually alive by believing in Jesus.

The purpose of living a life of faith is to have our spirits come alive, to become living beings who fellowship with the Lord, and ultimately, when we leave this world, to be clothed in a resurrected body and enter the eternal new heaven and new earth to live forever. However, is our faith merely for worldly success? When we look at successful people in the world like Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, Bill Gates of Microsoft, Steve Jobs of Apple, Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, PSY who gained global popularity with “Gangnam Style,” or the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali—none of these individuals are known to be followers of Jesus. Yet, they have all achieved great fame and wealth.

There are also many examples of Christians who have succeeded in business, such as John D. Rockefeller, David Green, the CEO of Hobby Lobby, and Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A. In sports, we see devout Christians like Olympic gold medalist figure skater Yuna Kim and soccer player Lee Young-pyo. Therefore, it is evident that success or failure in this world does not depend on whether one is a Christian or not. This is because God provides sunlight, rain, air, and wisdom to all people. When we examine the lives of successful people, regardless of their faith, we find that they embody certain values—perhaps ten or so—that almost guarantee success. While these values are not directly related to salvation, they do align with God’s principles as laid out in the Bible.

First, when we look at their lives, we see that they had clear goals for success. They made plans and strategies to achieve those goals. As it says in Luke 14:28, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?” Jesus used this parable to teach us that we must set goals and make plans to achieve them if we want to succeed.

Second, their consistent effort led to results. Even in difficult circumstances, they did not give up but persevered until the end. As Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Third, they had passion for what they were doing. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” This is the mindset we should have in our work.

Fourth, they had deep knowledge and understanding of the field in which they sought to succeed. To achieve this, they continually acquired new skills and knowledge, and they possessed the ability to adapt to changing times. As Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Wisdom is not merely the accumulation of information or knowledge, but a profound insight that allows one to understand and solve life’s complex problems.

Here is a problem that was given on a company’s entrance exam: You are driving on a stormy night with heavy rain pouring down. As you pass by a bus stop, you see three people waiting there: An elderly woman who looks like she is about to die. A doctor who once saved your life. And the person of your dreams, your ideal partner. Your sports car only has room for one passenger. Whom would you choose to give a ride? If you choose to take the elderly woman, you could save her life. If you take the doctor, you could repay the debt you owe for saving your life. If you take your dream partner, you may never get another chance to meet them again. What choice would you make? The person who was hired with the top answer wrote: “I would give the car keys to the doctor and have him take the elderly woman to the hospital, while I wait for the bus with my dream partner.”

Fifth, they demonstrated creativity and innovation by finding new solutions and thinking outside the box. This involves adapting to the environment and introducing new ideas. As Isaiah 43:19 says, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Even in seemingly impossible situations, they had the vision to find solutions through creativity.

Sixth, they were able to make quick and bold decisions in critical moments. This is where wisdom is essential. As James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Seventh, success is difficult to achieve alone. You must establish and maintain the right network of connections to seize various opportunities. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” It’s crucial to maintain good relationships that can support your vision.

Eighth, managing financial resources effectively and securing funds when needed is vital. Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” You should save where you can, prepare to secure funds, and avoid losing credibility.

Ninth, it’s important to adapt quickly to unexpected changes and have the flexibility to adjust strategies when necessary. Proverbs 24:10 says, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” While you may feel weak, having faith in the One who gives you strength will make you bold in every situation.

Tenth, you must possess ethics and morality, as these will impact your trustworthiness and reputation in the long term. Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” The key to sustained success is trustworthiness.

Whether one is a believer or not, when these 10 values become internalized, they lead to success in this world. Does God ensure success simply because we go to church? No, He does not. So, does God plan our failures and successes? That question itself is flawed, and therefore, any answer would be misguided. Failure is the result of foolishness that ignores the wisdom required for success. Therefore, those who believe in Jesus must diligently learn and strive to become experts in their fields, making extraordinary efforts to avoid bringing shame to God’s name in this world.

So, what is the benefit of believing in Jesus? Life is like a mist and like the flowers of the field. Youth, listen carefully: your youth will pass quickly. One day, unexpectedly, death will come. When you compare yourself to successful people like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs, you may feel insignificant. However, they, like all of us, will eventually leave this world. And there will be a final judgment. The Lord spoke about this in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man went to eternal destruction, while Lazarus entered eternal heaven. Whom should we envy? If we only look at this world, we might envy the rich man. But this world is temporary. The coming Kingdom of God is eternal. Despite this, would you choose to live without God, striving only for success in this world, even if it means going to hell after you die? Certainly not.

2. How can we have fellowship with the Lord? Since the Lord’s word is spirit, when we obey His word, we have fellowship with the Lord, who is spirit. Jesus came to this earth to bring our spirits to life and to have fellowship with us. If you have the desire and passion to live according to God’s word, it is evidence that your spirit is alive and that you have been born again. This is because when the spirit is dead, there is no desire to live according to God’s word.

Ezekiel 36:27 says, “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” This means that God gives us the Holy Spirit to instill in us the desire to follow His word and to grant us the ability to live according to it.

Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” God works within us by giving us the desire to fulfill His word. This is proof that the spirit is alive.

Since the Lord is the Word made flesh, fellowship with the Lord happens when we believe in His word and obey it. Obeying the word means setting aside our own thoughts and will to follow His, and this is true humility. The Lord grants grace to the humble. However, if we do not follow God’s word because we believe our own thoughts are right, that is pride. We must understand life—it is like a mist if God is not in it. Therefore, we must be humble before God. When we are, we receive grace, and that is how we will find true happiness.

Prayer also plays a crucial role in fellowship with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” Prayer is seeking God’s help for His word, which we have heard and read, to be realized in our lives, and through this, we have fellowship with the Lord, who is the Word. Therefore, without such prayer, fellowship with the Lord is unimaginable.

Since the Lord is light, having fellowship with Him means believing that He is light. There is no darkness in Him at all. Thus, to have fellowship with the Lord is to live in the light as well. In other words, this means that faith must be accompanied by actions. James 2:17 says, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Therefore, obeying the Lord’s word and acting according to His will is what it means to live in the light.

3. Fellowship with the Lord brings us incredible blessings.

First, through fellowship with the Lord, we are cleansed from sin. 1 John 1:7 promises that if we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

Second, fellowship with the Lord leads to a life where our prayers are answered. John 15:7 says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” This is a promise that when we dwell in fellowship with the Lord, our prayers will be answered according to His will.

Third, fellowship with the Lord gives us peace and joy. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” This is the promise that fellowship with the Lord brings a peace that transcends worldly worries and anxieties.

Fourth, fellowship with the Lord gives us the assurance of eternal life. 1 John 5:13 says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” In fellowship with the Lord, we gain confidence in the hope of eternal life, and nothing in this world can separate us from the love of Christ.

Let me summarize the message. Today, I’ve shared with you about what fellowship with the Lord is, how it is achieved, and what the results of it are. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit so that we could be born again and have fellowship with Him. Even without being born again, a person can achieve great success in this world depending on their abilities and circumstances. However, we all have a day when we will leave this world. When that day comes, those who have not been born again will face eternal destruction. Therefore, we do not envy the worldly blessings of those who are not born again. Instead, we admire those who walk with the Lord in fellowship every day. These are the ones who, through daily immersion in the Word and prayer, sanctify themselves to live according to God’s commands in this world. Through our fellowship with the Lord, we are cleansed from sin, our prayers are answered, we receive peace and joy, and we gain the assurance of eternal life. This fellowship with the Lord is the essence of the Church and the ultimate goal of the believer’s life.

In conclusion, through deep communion with the Lord, we experience the rich blessings that God gives us, and through this, we discover the true meaning and purpose of our Christian life. Therefore, I pray in the name of the Lord that we all may have true fellowship with Him. Amen!

Let us pray together. Gracious and loving Father, we open our hearts to You, believing that You are waiting with mercy for us to become complete in our faith. We desire to have deep fellowship with You, Lord, as You come to us as a friend. Since You are light, may we also live in the light, free from darkness. Give us hearts that long to obey Your Word. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. May those who encounter us see Your image in us, and may they be blessed through meeting us. We acknowledge our frailty and ask for Your grace to strengthen us each day, so that we may glorify You in our lives with healthy bodies. We give thanks, praise, and glory to You, Lord, and we pray all these things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.