Doing Life Together (Part Two)

The only source of love that will always lift you and build you , is God's love. Sin removes people from the source of love. Brokenness is perpetuated whenever we look to one another to be the source of well being. Connection with Father God lies at the heart of restoration wherever and however brokenness manifests. When fellowship with Him is restored through receiving Jesus Christ, we can experience sweet fellowship with one another. When we receive Christ's grace we are also empowered to receive one another. In fact a grace based culture will permit people to grow even through mistakes because if there is no judgement, we can dare to receive one another without fear of rejection or condemnation.


The account of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis, is an account of restoration of a family for which  God had great plans. The high point of the account was not Joseph's abilities to interpret dreams but  his determination and passion to be restored with his brothers. Over some 22 years, Joseph was actually being prepared to receive his brothers without any sense of vindication, revenge or anger toward them. Joseph was able to totally forgive his brothers and to declare that "what you intended for evil, God meant for good, for the saving of many lives." (Gen.50:20) The high point for Joseph, as for us, is to see what God sees. His brothers at first feared the worst when they met Joseph after their father's death. We struggle to connect with one another because we can be fearful of rejection and fearful of not having the approval of others but if we see that God will never forsake or reject us, we can overcome these common fears.


Grace will do the work of restoration if we will receive it and then expend it. I have a friend who says "you have not because you spend not!" We are made to receive grace so that we can be big spenders of grace. It is not 'my grace' to hold on to. It is His grace given to us so that it can go through us to others. It is designed to be passed forward. If, for example, I know that I am totally forgiven of my sins, I am empowered to pass forgiveness forward to others. When this happens we begin to experience authentic fellowship one with another. We will begin to experience both giving and receiving like breathing in and out. We will begin to be edified as well edify others. We will experience fellowship at its highest levels. We will be able to share at a basic level (e.g. hospitality) but we will also be able to share at a higher level of fellowship (e.g. bearing burdens of grief and suffering). In essence security comes from knowing that God will never cut off fellowship with the believer. When we get this we will be free to receive one another.












This blog is based on a message called 'Doing Life Together' by Ross Smith on 21/06/15 at The Vine church, Springwood, Logan City, Queensland, Australia. The full message can be accessed by podcast on www.thevine.org.au/teaching