Joy is a positive quality of life that God desires for His children. Our Father, God, has no greater joy than to hear that His children walk in truth. Joyful living results when we know the truth of God’s Word and apply it to our lives. As we walk in fellowship with God, according to His Word, our joy overflows. And fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ in the household of God is a wonderful way we can live joyfully.
Our fellowship, or full sharing, with one another starts with an intimate relationship with God as our heavenly Father. The personal and tender fellowship we enjoy with our heavenly Father forms the foundation for our joyful fellowship with one another in the household. Fullness of joy through full-sharing fellowship was made available to us by God through the accomplished works of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. When we fellowship with God and one another in the household, each of us walking in the light of God’s Word, our joy will be full.
I John 1:3,4:
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
Home fellowship meetings contribute in a variety of ways to living joyfully with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The centerpiece of each home fellowship meeting is the teaching of God’s rightly divided Word. When God’s Word is taught, it can give us great joy. It’s also a joy to hear words that comfort and encourage us directly from our heavenly Father by way of the worship manifestations. At home fellowship meetings, we come before God’s presence with singing. We make a joyful noise, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. Opportunities for cheerful giving of our finances, giving of our spiritual long-suit abilities, and giving in other ways to meet needs are available when our fellowships meet. It’s a joy to give, knowing that we are helping others and, at the same time, having the assurance that we will receive God’s abundant blessings as we give.
As we fellowship around God’s Word with like-minded believers, the love we share with one another is refreshing, bringing great joy and comfort to our lives.
Philemon 7:
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels [hearts] of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Fellowshipping around God’s Word with one another while breaking bread from house to house filled the hearts of the first-century believers with gladness (Acts 2:46). Like-minded believers can experience the same wonderful benefit today.
One night each week, my wife and I enjoy fellowshipping with another believer couple by eating an evening meal together. We take turns fellowshipping this way in each other’s homes. Our mealtimes include sharing how we are applying God’s Word in our lives. We also encourage one another toward achieving our Word-centered goals. Then we rejoice together in our victories when those goals come to pass!
Proverbs 13:19:
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul….
Before saying our goodbyes, we take a few minutes to pray with and for one another. We make specific requests, and we express our thankfulness for all that God, our Father, has done for us.
Philippians 1:4,5:
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.
The personal and tender fellowship we enjoy with our heavenly Father forms the foundation for our joyful fellowship with one another. God’s Word encourages His children to fellowship with like-minded believers so that our joy may be full. Participating in home fellowships, sharing meals with like-minded believers, rejoicing in our victories, and praying together are some of the ways our lives can be filled with joy.
Let’s live joyfully by walking in the truth of God’s Word as we fellowship with one another in the household of God!