โ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐ข๐, ๐กโ๐๐๐ข๐โ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ฝ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ถโ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐.โ – 1 ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐๐ 1:9
Here, the phrase โinto the fellowshipโ reveals that we are the partakers; we are called into the fellowship of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Its root meaning in this context reveals two further perspectives to consider. The first is:
– To โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ โ๐๐โ is to be a partaker of ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ, with the Lord Himself.
To partake of the union, or the oneness, is a matter 100% related to life. You can never be one with the Lord without life. Therefore, the second perspective is:
– To be โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ โ๐๐โ is a matter of ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ that organic life.
By looking at these two points, we know that the maturing process requires ๐๐๐๐. Without experiencing life, you will never be mature. To be mature, this life needs to be constituted into you.
The word โministryโ refers to our constitution, to the substance that is inside us. That substance has a manifestation. Actually any substance, whether physical or natural, has an expression. Among us there may be a manifestation of a gift; the gift carries an expression, carries a manifestation that can be witnessed even physically. However, the manifestation of the gift must be the outcome of experiencing life. Any immature gift practiced in the organic process eventually will become a damage. This is because gifts have a very specific relationship to life. Anything without the nature of the proper manifestation will mislead, misguide or become a damage. We do know from later on in chapter twelve of this book that we have a gift; the gift is actually the fruit or manifestation of the maturing life or the mature life. Unfortunately, there is no room for partial gifts.
If life is mature, then the gift is mature, and that gift is for life. If we change the nature of the gift, such as using it in a typical religious wayโyour natural, good heart towards others, for exampleโyou will eventually be led to produce different things, not organic life. To be one with the Lord, which is partaking of the union with Him, is organic. When we are one with the Lord organically, we are one with the Lord in that same union, the same oneness, so that you can be one in โinstinct.โ Instinct here is not a fleshly instinct or soulish instinct. You can be one in instinct in your soul with the spirit because that spirit gives you that true instinct within your soul. The Spirit does carry three major functions: conscience, intuition and fellowship. Fellowship provides a nature that is amazingly continuous. You can never be apart from the Lord. Most people say, โIโm not in my spirit todayโ But you canโt say that. When you are saved, the Spirit is always there. You are always in the sphere of the fellowship because you share in common with Him, you are saved. If you are reborn, you are reborn. If you were born as a chicken, you are a chicken, and you will always be a chicken. You canโt say, โToday Iโm a chicken. Tomorrow Iโm a duck.โ Itโs a religious understanding and an excuse to say, โOh, Iโm sorry brother, I failedโ or โSorry, I forgot.โ When you say, โIโm so sorry,โ โwhat do you mean โyou are sorry?โ Okay, now what? Have you become a duck? By making excuses, does that mean you are not a believer anymore? Are you no longer abiding in union, one with Christ? No. Donโt say youโre not in the spirit. This isnโt living in the truth but dwelling in excuses. It is time to live in fellowship with Him, to be engaged in that life for full maturity, and be truly one with Him in the exercising of the gifts for the fruit of the ministry.
“๐น๐๐ ๐๐๐ค ๐ค๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐; ๐๐๐ค ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ค๐.” -1 ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐๐ 13:12
(Above are notes of fellowship taken from a gathering on 5/3/2020, not reviewed by the speaker.)