Unequally yoked-genuine fellowship.
Posted by appolus on April 6, 2021
We were warned in 2 Cor 6:14 not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. So of course the question becomes “what is an unbeliever?” In the context of the Scriptures and the times of the Scriptures being written, a believer was someone who had trusted God with all of his/her heart.
Someone who had counted the cost. Someone who loved not their lives unto death. Someone who was willing and desirous even, to suffer for the cause of Christ, someone who would even rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus. This was a believer, and an unbeliever was someone not willing to do these things. What fellowship could one have with the other? What fellowship can hot have with lukewarm? One is desirable and the other is vomited out.
How does this apply to the modern day church? People like Tozer and Ravenhill spoke of the tiny percentage of professing believers that are actually saved. Let us be really generous and say that 30% of professing Christians are actually genuine believers, that leaves 70% who are not. Next time you go to a church building, look around and consider these numbers. The question then becomes, ” are you unequally yoked,” based upon a Scriptural model of what it means to be saved.
We are asked “what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness.” One is darkness, the other is light. Listen to the instruction given “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” Have you given serious consideration to this commandment from the Lord? What does it mean to you? Come out from what? Be separate from what? Do not have fellowship with who? These are serious questions and I cannot answer them for you.
All I can say is, if you go back to the second paragraph and see the traits of the saint, is this who you fellowship with? Jesus talks about vomit when it comes to lukewarmness. Could He make it any clearer? Are you gathering with lukewarmness? I would put it to you that you are in direct violation of the commands of God if you are. Fellowshipping with other saints is not about ticking a box. It’s not about a three minute conversation in the foyer after a “service.” It is at least two passionate like-minded individuals getting together to talk about their common passion, Jesus!!! This is what we are driven to do if we indeed have the Holy Spirit burning at the core of who we are.
We would talk about Jesus, we would talk about His word, we would talk about how He talked to us. We would talk about how He just brought us through whatever He just brought us through. We would talk about the passion of coming into His presence. We would talk about the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon us and how it was sanctifying us. We would talk about our love for one another. We would confess our faults and our failures and our sins to one another. We would talk about how He raised us up when we were down. We would sing the glories of Christ our King together.
We would talk about a word of knowledge He gave us, we would share a word of wisdom, a word in season, an exhortation. We would rebuke and correct one another. We would love one another enough to do all of the aforementioned things. The hours would fly away as we spoke about our common passion. Our bonds would grow deep and our unity would grow strong. It would not be the name of our denomination that bound us together, there would be no such thing. It would not be the four walls that we shared that would bind us together. It would be Christ alone, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that would unify us. Our identity would be in Christ alone.
We would share what the Lord had taught us and in the sharing we would be teaching one another. We would stand up and testify to His power in our lives. We would stand up and testify to the magnificent beauty of the King off Kings and of the things that we had seen in the Spirit. We would shed tears together. Tears of joy, tears of pain, tears of sorrow. When one of us suffered and testified to the suffering we would all suffer. When one would testify of great joy and overcoming an obstacle we would all have great joy together. We would pray together, genuinely pray together. We would be one in our prayers. That is the gathering brothers and sisters. I would say to you that almost none of that can or does happen when the majority of the people that we gather with live, at the very best, in lukewarmness or even outright darkness. How can light fellowship with darkness? It cannot. Consider your position saint.
This entry was posted on April 6, 2021 at 8:46 am and is filed under bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Frank Bartleman, Ignited Church, Jesus, leaving the church, new wineskins, pentecostal, religion, revival, spiritual growth, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
A Call To The Remnant 
Alan Kearns said
I agree with the points clearly stated here. Yet I struggle with separatism with those nearest to us in society who are not believers; how are they to learn about the Saviour without someone tells them and shows them His love?
appolus said
“Separatism from those nearest to us in society.” I do not know what that means brother. Remember the Scriptures tells to “be ye separate.” Do you struggle with that verse? We are in the world but not of it. We have interchanges all day long with the world and we can shine our light before them and reach out to them all day long. The post was about “fellowship.” Specifically fellowshiping with unbelievers and how we are commanded not to do that. In most of the churches in the west it has been a race to the bottom to accommodate bums on pews. It is a 1000 miles wide and three inches deep. The Holy Spirit is not concerned with numbers, the size and the scope of a gathering, He us rather, according to His Word, concerned with the depths of it. He despises, and that is not hyperbole, lukewarmness. He described what He would do with it. Jesus said He would vomit it out of His mouth, gag on it in a reflective rejection of its state. Our primary concern should always be Jesus and what He said. The word of God is our guide and not the emotions. It is there to keep us edified and healthy on the treacherous narrow path we have been called to walk down. Broad is the path that leads to destruction, few there are on the narrow path that leads to life. If we want to be Spiritually healthy, it is incumbent upon us to fellowship with those on the same narrow path. God bless you brother……..bro Frank.
Alan Kearns said
Brother Frank thank you for your excellent reply! I have no problem with the scriptural command to be separated from the world and it’s ways, but I have seen separation taken to the extreme level within family circles and communities. As believers we must walk a narrow path keeping ourselves from sin and the temptations of it, of that there can be no doubt. We are called by our Holy God to live a life of holiness unto Him, which takes effort every day. In all this we must also live in the world (but still separate!) as a witness to the power and love of God. In this our light will shine for our Almighty God (Mat.5:16).
Thank you for your ministry brother, and the blessings of His Word that you share.
appolus said
Hi Alan, at the risk of being nit picky 😀 I would like to point out that the Scripture we are referring to here is not talking about :the world and its eays.” Neither is it talking about interactions with the world for indeed we are called to go into the highways and byways, to go into the world and make disciples. No, it is talking specifically about having “fellowship,” with unbelievers. Thus was why I began the piece pointing out the differences. The key word to keep in mind here is “fellowship.” Not to be confused with general interaction with those of the world. We are never to to isolate ourselves from the world, but we are told to “come out from among” fellowship with unbelievers. A vital distinction……..bro Frank
John P. Thomas said
I think it is more like 10% saved and 90% self deceived “believers.” At least that has been my experience in most churches I have attended.
appolus said
I would not argue with that John……bro Frank.
Rebecca said
Thank you for this … I have a wonderful sister in Christ and this describes our relationship to a tee! We spend time talking about Jesus and what we are studying … we pray together and we lift one another up in hard times. She does not live close so i n searching for a fellowship I have been to several churches where I live to sadly discover the truth in what you say.
What I have discovered, as I search the beginnings of certain denominations, the leaders doctrines were biblical but slowly traditions started creeping in. Now it seems like the blind leading the blind … it is scary times and you are right the fellowship is so superficial. I can not be a part of it … I have checked myself and it is not an act of self righteousness but of preservation.
I prayed a long time ago to have discernment and absolute truth … I do not want to be deceived. Sometimes it is a lonely walk but I am learning to have patience … I am learning to trust in Jesus more and more to be my all and all. We must shine His light into the darkness but we can not walk in it with them. We can not compromise truth.
appolus said
Wonderful lessons sister, wonderful, and the treasure of a sister in Christ to share your passion with!…………………bro Frank