1 JOHN 1:1-7 JOYFUL FELLOWSHIP2010 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: 1 John 1:1-7 Joyful Fellowship

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2010. This morning as we start off the book of John, it's very exciting. This is one of those books that just really stands out. It's a highlight. It's in the scriptures for us. This is John.

down to earth application of the truths of Christianity and how to know the things that we know and how we can know that we are where God wants us to be and how we can know that we love God and that we love one another. He really boils it down in some powerful tools to grow in our lives and to examine where we are in our Christian faith. The Apostle John is here and he's writing this

along with the rest of his writings, it's believed that he wrote these at the end of his life. And so, it's believed that around 90 AD, around 95 AD, he wrote the Gospel of John, which is at the beginning of the New Testament. You're probably familiar with that. These three are the things you're probably familiar with. We're looking at the first one, and then we'll get into the second and third John in the coming months. And then the book of Revelation, also written by the Apostle John. All right.

John.

about 60 years out now from the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And he's here writing some very important truths about our relationship with God. One of the major emphasis that John has in writing this is he's countering the doctrine of Gnosticism that was going on at the time. Gnosticism was something

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You might know what the truth is. That we might learn how to walk with Jesus Christ. One of the things that John says over and over again is, this is how we know. It's by this that we know. He's intent on making sure that there's some clarity there. That it's not just kind of, you know, you just kind of hope and believe that it's true. No, there's some crisp and clear realities and you can know them and you can know them.

know that you know them for specific reasons. It's not just a whole fantasy. There's reasons behind our fantasy. There's reasons behind our dreams. Why we believe and how we believe and how we know what we know. Some of the themes that John deals with, he's one of those writers who uses the same words over and over and over again. So there's common themes all throughout this epistle of 1 John. Well, through the gospel of John, there's a lot of

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How we can know that we have eternal life, what eternal life is, and what we have looking forward to in eternal life. And he writes a lot of books about knowing. How we know what we know, and knowing the things that are true, and knowing God and having that relationship with him. And we'll see those things repeated over and over again in this episode. But as we begin to read the book, the first seven verses of the book is this morning. The focus here is really on

on fellowship. And there's three things I want to point out to you in regards to fellowship that John will be sharing with us this morning. The first is the fact of fellowship. As we look at the first three verses, we find that he talks about fellowship and the reality that he talks about is that it is a fact. It is the fruit. It's guaranteed. And we see that at the beginning of verse 1 when it says this. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which

The beginning of John he says starts in the beginning.

He starts in the beginning. He says that which was from the beginning. Now he's talking about Jesus Christ. And he's going to be centering his thoughts here around the person of Jesus Christ. And he's reminding us that Jesus was from the beginning. He was always God. And that is something that he will be stressing throughout the book. That Jesus Christ is God. And the Gnostics of the day have a viewpoint on who Jesus Christ is.

He was there.

with Jesus. We watched him. We heard him teach. We heard his message. We listened to his parables. We were there with our own ears. We heard him. And not only did we hear him, but we saw him with our own eyes. We saw him. He was visible to us. A great, awake, omnium on a mega screen. We were right there with him. John is explaining. We saw him with our eyes, so we looked upon him.

John is explaining in all ways

I've had a personal encounter with Jesus. I was there with him in his ministry. I touched him. I saw him. I heard him. I studied him. See that specifically after his resurrection where Jesus appeared to his disciples and said, Hey, go ahead, feel the scar. That's where the spirit entered. Their hands handled him. They felt him. They knew that he was real. They studied him intently. Is this really Jesus Christ? Is this really Jesus Christ?

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and said, who is it, Lord? Who is this one that's going to betray you? But he leaned on Jesus. He had this close relationship with Jesus. He had this personal experience with Jesus before his crucifixion and after his resurrection. I witness testimony.

of the truth about the truth about jesus christ and jesus christ and the reality of his reality of his existence existence and the truth and the truth of his claims of his claims now we can very quickly understand that we understand that they are extremely extremely reliable reliable because

All of the disciples, the disciples, the 11 who were left after Judas betrayed Jesus, were consistent in their account of who Jesus is, what he had done, his appearance to them, the fact that he is God. They were consistent. All 11 disciples. Even, even, even persecution and even torture. All of the disciples were tortured because of their message, because of their professional faith.

All of them, except for John, were put to death that way as a result of the message of the gospel. And even John, they attempted, according to historical accounts, to boil him in oil, but he deserved him through that. And then they exiled him to the island of Patmos, where he had the vision that he later wrote down. And we know it as the book of Revelation. But he even survived that, and finally they released him, and he returns to Ephesus.

at that time that he's writing these things. The gospel, these letters in the book of Revelation. Persecution, under torture. They were consistent in their story. Their testimony is valid. It is true. And that's what John is saying. Look, we've been through it. We were there. We were there.

Jesus Christ is indeed who he said he was. He says, look, all of these things we heard, we saw, we looked upon, with our hands we've handled concerning the word of life. The word of life is a reference to Jesus. Again, looking at John chapter 1. There in the beginning was the word, the word was with God, the word was God, the word was God. He's talking about Jesus. And then in verse 4 of John 1, he says, in him was life. And the life was the light of men.

In Jesus. Jesus is life. He is the word. He is the word of life. He is the one that God has chosen to use to bring life to us. So he says in verse 2, the life was manifested. That life that God did

desires to bring to us and to work in our hearts was revealed Jesus Christ was manifested revealed and we have seen he says there are two and there are witness and declare to you that eternal life which was with the father and was manifested to us to us

He's saying the same thing, but just saying it once again and saying it once again in slightly different terms. He's saying, look, we were there. We were there. We saw him. We saw him. He was revealed to us. We know him. We knew him. We spent time with him. And we bear witness, John says, that Jesus was revealed before us. The life was revealed.

Unveiled before our eyes. And we understood that he is the way, the truth, and the life. And the life is Jesus himself proclaimed in John chapter 14 verse 6. We have seen and read their witness. John here is building the case. Showing that they were not mistaken. That they knew that Jesus existed. They experienced his life.

even up to his death and resurrection. They found that he is the wife, just as he said he was. The things that John is writing about are factual. They're not just hopeful or delusional or wishful thinking. He's not misguided. He's not misguided. He's evidencing us this is a fact. Jesus Christ, the wife, appeared. He revealed himself. We experienced it. And it's him that we declare to you.

he's the one that we declare to you that eternal life which is with the father with the father and was manifested to us the father revealed to us jesus christ and life in his name his name he revealed he revealed he unveiled unveiled the idea of revealing on there revealing unveiling is it something is it something has a blanket over it a cloak over it a cloak over it then you take it off and take it off and then jesus was before them and before them and then the veil was removed and understood he is the way the truth and the life the truth and the life

Why?

What purpose is he sharing these things? Well, he says that you may have fellowship with us. And not only with us, he says, but truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. I want to introduce this idea of fellowship. It's what we want to focus on today, that fellowship indeed is a fact. It's a reality. We really do have fellowship with God through Jesus Christ.

But before we get to that part of it, John says, I'm sharing these things with you, the gospel message, the reality of Jesus Christ, so that you can have fellowship with us. We experience these things. We were with Jesus. That doesn't make us an exclusive group. You can be part of it. I'm sharing these things with you so that you, by believing in Jesus Christ, John says, you can...

have fellowship with us. You can experience a relationship with Jesus along with us. It is one that we're familiar with in the sense that we use it quite frequently within the church. Even though we use it frequently, I think many times we forget the important role that it needs to play within our spiritual lives.

Something that is much deeper than the way that we often use the word. You know, often on our flyers or in the bulletin we're inviting you to some type of event or some type of study or dinner night or whatever. And one of the

the things that we often put there, you know, we often put there, you know, fun, food, and fellowship. And we like that, and it's great, and we have fun, and we have food, and we have fellowship, and we have fellowship, we get together, get together, and enjoy a good meal together. We hang out together, and often we label that as fellowship. And that's okay, that is an element of fellowship, and it's an important part of fellowship.

What fellowship is really about. It's not the full picture of what fellowship is and how meaningful it is to us as believers. Fellowship extends beyond just hanging out. In fact, the word means to participate. It's a sharing that takes place or a oneness that takes place. You and I, we can hang out together and we can share that time. We can participate in that meal. We can enjoy that joke together.

And in that sense, it's fellowship. But let me ask you this. Do you know that different than what happens with those who don't have a relationship with God? Who don't know God can hang out together and have a good meal together and share some laughs together and spend some time together. The fellowship that we're talking about in the scriptures, it's deeper than just that surface-level relationship that is available, that God wants to do it.

different and it goes way beyond what beyond what can be experienced can be experienced without god it's without god you hear a fellowship it speaks of a one that is obtained that is obtained because we because we mutually mutually have relationship have relationship with god with god it's a it's a oneness that comes oneness that comes from our sharing from our sharing life together life together and experiencing a relationship relationship of god together together you know there's a you know there's a oneness that oneness that comes comes by experience by experiencing things with other things with others in life from

times good things produces that one thing. Difficult things produce that oneness. What I often use and think about for my own reference in regards to this is a couple of years ago, several of us from this fellowship, we went on a trip to two of the nations of Israel and to go see those biblical sites that we read so much about. And we started off the trip really time together because it was very difficult in that

I'm leaving L.A. I'm leaving L.A. I was delayed. I was delayed. Which made us miss our connecting flight. Connecting flight. Just by five minutes. In fact, five minutes. In fact, it was five minutes.

before the plane was going to leave, we could see it outside the window, but they wouldn't let us board. And there's the plane going. We just sat through two hours of security and all kinds of horrendous tram rides and things like that. And so we're starting off not so well, but it's already starting to unite us. And then we have to go back to another terminal, go back to security again, barely again, barely to connect. 24 hours of the trip was just traveling, traveling. And

And so we had to go back.

and there's this one

there's this bond that develops, this fellowship that we have as a result of the good things as well. And that is this oneness that is built, this oneness that results. For us as believers, this is that idea of fellowship. It's that bond that happens, it's that unity that develops as we together live the Christian life. There's a oneness that comes from you and I dealing with sin together.

Sharing with one another. This is what I'm going through. This is what I'm going through. This is what I'm struggling. Praying for one another. Encouraging one another. Helping each other overcome those areas and those issues of life. There's a oneness within us as believers as we walk with God together. You know we're sharing with one another. I was reading today. This is what God spoke to me. This is the way that he's directing me. I believe this is what he wants me to do. This is how God ministers.

and let my need and no one needed no one receiving how God is receiving how God has been speaking to you and speaking to you there's this there's this exchange as we exchange as we walk with God we walk with God together and together it develops this awareness this unit this unity unity between us as brothers between us as brothers and sisters in the Lord and sisters in the Lord there's a reaching out together reaching out together as we see a need there's see a need there's those who need to hear the gospel to hear the gospel or there's

those who have this need and need to be ministered to, maybe a physical need or something of that sort. And we work together, we work together, we work together, we work alongside of each other in order to reach out, to share the good news, to minister to those around us. There's a oneness that comes from watching God work. Sometimes we're infinitely involved in watching God do amazing things right before our eyes. And all of those ways, as we raise,

Yes, we live together and share it with one another and participate in each other's lives. There's this fellowship that takes place. There's this oneness that is developed. There's this unity that is there. And that's what Christian fellowship is really about. It's well below the surface.

Talk about the weather. Or the latest sports team or thing that's going on. It's well beyond the surface. It's much deeper. It's the sharing, this common bond of God at work, ministering to one another, and being a part of each other's spiritual life. We have fellowship together because we share the common hope of eternity with God through Jesus Christ. This morning, I want to encourage you regarding fellowship.

In the Christian walk. With people around you. God has placed them there in your life. You may not like the God that's placed around you. But he's put them there. You need to fellowship with them. And you need to share your spiritual life with them. And allow them to share with you their spiritual life.

There needs to be some participation. We need to engage in the body of Christ. Engage in the lives of those around us that God has placed there. John says, I'm sharing these things with you so that you're a part of what we're a part of. So that you can experience the things that we've experienced. So that we can be together as we walk with God in a relationship with Jesus Christ. John says, we saw him, we studied him, we heard him, we heard him.

You can be a part of it too. You have the opportunity to know him too. Because he goes on to say, and truly, our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ. There's an inseparable link between fellowship with God and fellowship with other believers. These two things cannot be separated.

If you have fellowship with God, you also have fellowship with other believers. And if you have fellowship with other believers, you also have fellowship with... I'm talking about God. I'm talking about the reality of fellowship. The reality of fellowship, as I've just been explaining. Beyond the surface. If we really have this oneness, this unity, this connection with God, we will have fellowship with others around us who have that same connection to God. The connection with those around us as believers. When we...

we'll have we'll have that same connection same connection with god there's an inseparable week between between these two they always always are together together think about it in the terms of the terms the apostle paul used in describing the church as the body of the body of christ christ jesus jesus christ is the head christ is the head we are together with the body together with the body without being connected to the head to the head no no it doesn't work that way it doesn't work that way if you're connected to the head connected to the head without being a part of it doesn't work that way that way

And so John says, I want you to have fellowship with us, but also understand, it's not just you and me, but it's also our fellowship is with God. And so you have a oneness, unity, all the things we've just been talking about, with God.

to direct you to direct you to lead you and to guide you there's a way

is a unity that is developed. We have fellowship with God. And those two things are inseparable. John has been explaining this is a fact. We have this fellowship with God. We've experienced sin, but you can be a part of it. You, by believing in Jesus Christ, can have this fellowship with us.

with God. It's real. It exists. God is working in us and through us. He allows us to participate in his plan. We work together. We walk together. We have real fellowship with God.

Jesus in his prayer in John chapter 17, his final hours before he's going to be led away to be crucified. And his prayer for all of those who would believe the message of those disciples that he was sending out. His prayer for them in verse 21 of John 17 was that they all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us.

that the world may believe that you sent me. Jesus' prayer was that we would be one, or that we would have this genuine, real fellowship together. That we would be one as Jesus was in the Father, and the Father was in Him. Like that relationship, you and I, and you and that relationship, they also may be one in us, He says. The Father had this united relationship, this wondrous relationship,

you and I and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and

And reality, it's not just fellowship with us, but it's fellowship with God. And that's how it's different. It's not just like a club. We just kind of hang out and fellowship together. But we really have a real connection to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And we share our lives with one another. We share our lives with God. We participate in his work. That is a reality. John says it's a fact. Presenting to us his eyewitness evidence.

to authenticate, to prove, to authenticate, to prove the fact that we have fellowship, that we have fellowship with God, and with God, and fellowship with one another, fellowship with one another. Now, as we go on now in verse 4, in verse 4, we find the second point, we find the second point this morning, and that is this morning, and that is the joy, the joy from fellowship, from fellowship. Fellowship is a reality, fellowship is a reality, fellowship is a reality, fellowship is a reality, fellowship is a fact, fellowship is a fact, that's what I was trying to say, that's what I was trying to say, and it produces, and it produces joy, joy, fellowship. Look at what he says in verse, look at what he says in verse 4, and 4, and these things we write, these things we write to you, that to you, that your joy, your joy may be full, may be full.

So he says, I'm declaring these things to you in the first three verses so that you can have fellowship with us. I'm sharing these things with you so that your joy may be full. I want you to participate. Also understanding that that's fellowship with God. It's fellowship with God as well as fellowship with us. Participate in this so that your joy may be full. If there was a gauge in your life, the joy, where would the needle be on that gauge? Somewhere in between. How's your joy meter?

Do you have joy? Is your joy full? Or are you running on empty? We often discuss, you probably have heard it, but we often need to be reminded as well. Joy is different than happiness. Happiness is based on our happenings. Happiness is based upon our circumstances. What's happening? And knowing them is happening. Or you might be sad about what you're telling them is happening. It's an emotion that's kind of based

and what you're going through and what you're going through and happier sad depends on your happenings. But joy is not based on your happenings. It's not based upon your circumstances. It's not an emotional response to what is going on. Joy, on the other hand, is rooted in faith, trust, and hope. It's rooted in the promises of God. God has provided for us now that we are now, that we have fellowship with him, that we have relationship with him, and that doesn't change no matter what is,

you have the opportunity to fellowship with God. You have real relationship with God. You have unlimited access to God by faith in Jesus Christ. And your circumstances don't change that. Your joy comes from that relationship with God. Not only that, but God has promised for us. And no matter what's happening in your life, that hope cannot be taken away from you. And so joy is based on something that is solid. It's that God has with us now and the promise of God

circumstances

but it's based upon who God is and what he has promised you. Let me put it another way. We may not like these terms, but joy helps you endure crucifixion. You know, our flesh is fighting against us, and our flesh, well, it needs to be put to death. It needs to be crucified.

Joy helps you endure crucifixion. Remember what happened in Hebrews 12 verse 2? There the author of Hebrews explains to us that we're to look unto Jesus, who's the author and the finisher of our faith. He goes on to explain that he, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross. The joy that was set before him endured the cross.

Enabled him to endure the cross. Joy helps you endure crucifixion. Because we know God is good. We know God works all things together for good to those who love him and call according to his purpose. We have a relationship with God because we have the hope of eternity. Joy enables us to endure the afflictions that we face.

Almost exactly the opposite of happiness in the sense that, well, you're not going to have happiness when times are difficult. Because that's the emotional response of our circumstances. Joy, on the other hand, is what helps you endure those difficulties.

It's what's set before you as you look forward with excitement, with expectation on what God has promised. And you enjoy right now the relationship that God has given to us. Joy helps us endure crucifixion. So how is that gauge of joy in your life? Is it full? God desires for your joy to be full.

So where does joy come from? Well, John says it comes from fellowship. Are you lacking joy? Participate in some fellowship.

Maybe you need to spend some time with God. Set aside some other things so that you can really connect with Him. And spend time in a relationship that He offers to you. You cannot disconnect that relationship, that fellowship with God from fellowship with others. Maybe there needs to be a connection with you and some of the people around you. If your joy is not full, God has provided with the Christ and the body of Christ and that is the relationship of those that you

for you to share your life with. We don't like to be vulnerable and to share what's going on and to share what our hopes and dreams are, our weaknesses are. We don't like to deal with those things. We know that we struggle with these things. We hide behind the Christian smile and say, praise the Lord. Everything's great and God is good. We need to let down that facade if your joy is not full. And connect with some people and share with them honestly. This is where I'm at. This is what I'm dealing with.

to take some time to take some time aside and give them an opportunity to share where they're at and what they're going going through produces produces joy joy it's one of the things that you can't do in a microwave doing a microwave though don't expect don't expect you know you spent you know you spend three minutes after three minutes after service talking with talking with somebody that all right somebody that all right you fellowshiped and fellowshiped and really got to get your head up and get your head up and happen that way happen that way it takes time it takes time to develop these relations all of these relationships you spend time together you spend time together

John chapter 15. John chapter 15.

in my life

I love you. Stay in that love. Stay in that love. Abide with me. Abide in my love. And in verse 11 of John 15, these things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and guess what he says? That your joy may be full. I want your joy to be full. Here's what you need to do. Abide in me. The Father has loved me. I've loved you. So stay in that relationship with me. I'm telling you these things, Jesus says.

I want you to be complete. Be joyful. To have complete joy. So abide in me. Stay close to me. But not only that. He goes on in the next verse. Verse 12. The Gospel of John 15. He says, this is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. The Father has loved me, Jesus has. I have loved you. So stay in that love. Because I want your joy to be full. And also, love

We love one another. We love Jesus. We have this love relationship with God and with one another. It's this fellowship that's inseparable between us and God and us and us. The reason why this fellowship exists, Jesus says, so that your joy may be full. How's your joy? Are you full of joy? Jesus gives us joy. His joy remains in us as we abide in him, as we love one another.

We fellowship together. Joy comes from fellowship. I encourage you this morning to fellowship with God. Engage. Spend time with God. Spend time with others. Participate in each other's lives. Share with one another. Show up those relationships. Let your joy may be full. We'll find the point number three.

is the walk of fellowship. Verses 5-7. Look at this slide. He says, this is the message which we have heard from him and declared to you that God is light. And in him is no darkness at all. This is the message he says. I don't know about you, but I'm really glad that this verse is true. Here's the message. God is light. And in him is no darkness at all. What if God had some darkness? Let's just mess things up.

is

that in him is goodness, and truth, and righteousness, and holiness, and purity. That is who God is. Because God is light. Now contrast that with us. It says in Romans 7.18, that in me, that is in my flesh, nothing good dwells. For the world to present with me, but how to perform what is good, I do not find. God is good, he is light, in him is light, in him is no darkness,

On the other side is us. We're nothing good dwells in our flesh. We may desire to do good. Even if we have that desire, we're not able to perform what is good. God is good. And he unlike us is able to perform it. And he's able to work all things together for good. Romans 8 says. Because God is light. And there is no darkness in him at all. Not without all. Not without all means not even one. A tiny bit of darkness. Not even one.

shadow or darkness. All of his motives are pure. Plans are right. All of his intentions are good. All of his ways are perfect. Everything he does is righteous and true. Now if this is who God is and we have fellowship with him, where would you expect to find us? In the light or in darkness? Would you expect us to dwell in the light or to dwell in darkness? And here's where John explains that there's a walk

a lifestyle that corresponds with our fellowship with God. That is, in the light and not in darkness. Basically, in verse 67, John is giving us a test. He is to examine ourselves. The fact of fellowship. That it exists, that it's real. As we understand the joy that comes from it. We may wonder, am I participating in this fellowship? Do I have a part in this? Am I enjoying this fellowship? John says, here's a test. Here's how we can tell.

Here's how we can examine ourselves. Notice he uses the word we. This isn't for examining others. This is for examining ourselves. Are we walking in fellowship with God and fellowship with others? Verse 6. If we say that we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. So he says, if you claim that you have that relationship with God that he offers, but if you walk in darkness and you make that claim, he says you're lying. He says you're lying.

and you don't practice the truth. Your words don't match with reality. You claim, you say that you have fellowship with God, but God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all. Your lifestyle fills with darkness, and you claim to have fellowship with Him. You're a liar, John says. If we claim to have fellowship with God who is light, then we will walk, not in darkness, but in the light.

That relationship that we have with God will impact our lives. It will change us and transform us. How's your walk? How's your lifestyle? Do you walk in darkness? Or do you walk in the light? Verse 7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. And the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanses us from all sin.

So we either walk in light or we walk in darkness. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, John's in the light, John says, we have. If we walk in darkness but claim to have fellowship with God, we're lying. We don't practice the truth. Now notice the interchanging of fellowship. In verse 6, it's fellowship with God that he's talking about. In verse 7, it's fellowship with one another. Because again, these are inseparable. And fellowship with other believers go hand in hand. You can't separate one from the other.

darkness

A real relationship with God affects your behavior. Speaking about light and darkness for a moment. Dr. Del Tackett, who is the one who's doing the teaching through the Truth Project. A couple of weeks ago in the video, he shared something that really stuck out in my mind. And so I share it with you again because it still continues to speak to me. He overcomes darkness. Darkness does not overcome light. We know that, right? Overcomes darkness. Darkness.

Now, he gave the example of a closet. I think it's a good one for us to consider. Inside of the closet, there's no light. It's dark. But when you open the door, light comes into the closet. And it lights it up. If you close the door, it's dark. You open the door, the closet is light. And your living room gets dark because your closet's dark. Darkness does not overcome light. Light overcomes darkness.

And so we cannot claim that we are in the light, but that the world is such a dark place. And that's why we live in darkness. The light overcomes darkness. See, the relationship with God transforms us. Darkness flees from light. Light drives out of the darkness. We claim to walk with God. We claim to have fellowship with God. But our lives are filled with darkness. We're lying. We're lying.

We do not practice the truth. It's not reality. But if we walk in the light, then we have fellowship with one another. He's in the light. Jesus Christ is from all sin. Now that's important. He's not saying darkness and light. You have to be perfect and have no sin. What's your lifestyle like? Is it a lifestyle of sin? That's your lifestyle. That's your habits. That's how you live. That's how you walk. Six days of darkness and a week of darkness and a Sunday morning doesn't count as walking in the light. So he gives us this

day to the god all day and all night and all night and that's fine and that's fine but you're walking in the light you're walking in the light or you're walking or you're walking thinking in darkness not darkness next we're going to deal more and more and look at the issues that he's talking about here with sin and the following verses and the following verses just just focusing on the fellowship for this morning for this morning understand understand that fellowship is a reality it's a reality it's a fact fact god god offers to you the opportunity to the opportunity to know him know him to walk with him to walk with him to connect with him to connect with him to hear from him to hear from him

He offers to you this real deep relationship, this intimacy, also with other believers. This type of relationship, this fellowship that he offers, produces joy in our lives. So I want to encourage you this morning to engage in that fellowship. To participate. As we spend time in worship together, as we worship quirkily, we're experiencing this time of worshiping God and extending our praise to God. Don't just sit there. Just sit there.

time after the service. Engage. Engage in the lives of the people around you. As you have other Christians in your life, outside of the church, but in your workplace, or in your neighborhood, or in your families, engage in part of theirs and care for them and pray for them and pray for them and share with them. But your joy may be full. Be full. Participate in the work of God. One of the reasons why we have multiple services on Sunday morning is so that people can be free to sit through and enjoy worship and the message together, but also have

to serve in the other service. It's to create opportunity in the work of God that your joy may be full. God has provided for us fellowship to produce in our lives the joy that we need to help us be the Christians that he's called us to be. Many times we try to sit on the sidelines instead of engaging. I want to encourage you this morning. Participate. Share your life. Share the lives of others.

walk together walk together in relationship with god relationship with god that your joy that your joy may be full may be full let's pray let's pray that i pray this morning pray this morning for us for us specifically this specifically this body here this body here at the chapel living water where did you help us help us to engage to engage with us help us to participate in this fellowship in this fellowship that you've offered to us that you've offered to us god teach us to love one another even as even as you have loved us you have loved us

Lord, may we turn around and love one another with that same love. That we may minister to one another and build one another up and help one another. God, that we can be a part of each other's lives as we walk with you together. Lord, because we know that what you've provided for us is for our benefit that our joy may be full. Lord, help us, God, to be obedient to you. Help us to lay aside our pride. Help us to lay aside our pride.

Amen. Amen.