The Scarlet Cord - Moriel Ministries

you as former Reachout trust representative
in South Africa to give insight into this cult.
Not only is it informative but also offers
insights into witnessing to LDS members
and other resources that can be obtained
through Reachout trust in the UK.
One final word: David Lister, who like
me is a board member of Moriel, has been
a missionary to the Mormon people for
many years. He once told me that the burning
in the bosom the Mormons experience
which comes to mind whenever they are
cornered by questions they cannot answer
is probably demonic in nature. Then the
possibility is that if Mitt Romney gains the
presidency of the USA, they would have
a demonically oppressed if not possessed
man leading the country.
A Mormon or a closet Muslim at the helm
of the most powerful nation on Earth is something
that should concern the whole church.
A difficult decision for the voters in the USA.
Other resources including, Book of Mormon
vs DNA, the Bible vs Book of Mormon
and Joseph Smith vs the Bible are
available through our USA Office
Please look at the index on the link carefully,
you can also download articles for
printing. “http://www.reachouttrust.org/articlesMormons.php”
TRUE FELLOWSHIP – Pt. 2
1 John 1: 1 – 10
“That which was from the beginning,
that which we have heard, that which
we have seen with our eyes, that which
we beheld, and our hands handled,
concerning the Word of life (and the
life was manifested, and we have seen,
and bear witness, and declare unto
you the life, the eternal life, which was
with the Father, and was manifested
unto us); that which we have seen and
heard declare we unto you also, that
ye also may have fellowship with us:
yea, and our fellowship is with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:
and these things we write, that our joy
may be made full. And this is the message
which we have heard from him
and announce unto you, that God is
light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with
him and walk in the darkness, we lie,
and do not the truth: but if we walk
in the light, as he is in the light, we
have fellowship one with another, and
the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us
from all sin. If we say that we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us. If we confess our sins, he
is faithful and righteous to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have
not sinned, we make him a liar, and his
David Royle
word is not in us.”
If you remember last time we looked at
part one in this three part series of fellowship,
we looked at the word for ‘fellowship’ itself
and how God has called us, not unto superficial
relationships but relationships which
have a depth of quality about them. Today
we are continuing by asking two questions;
In what do we have fellowship
With whom do we have fellowship
But I think that it’s important, first of all,
to remind ourselves of Vines definition of
fellowship, or ‘koinonia,’ so we can have a
platform to build upon as we discuss these
areas. Vine says ‘koinonia’ is ‘communion,
fellowship, sharing in common, that which
is the outcome of fellowship, a contribution.’
So with this in mind, what does the Word
of God say we must have fellowship in
First of all in Ephesians 3:8–9 Paul says
“to make all men see which is the fellowship
(koinonia) of the Mystery.” And it’s a
Mystery which Paul says is from the beginning
of the world. So in fact God’s plan for
this mystery stretched before the foundations
of the world; and what is that mystery
I believe in using the term mystery,
Paul links us to Colossians 1:27 “To whom
God would make known what is the riches
of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope
of glory.” Christ in us, the mystery, that
through the power of the Holy Spirit, God
has made his tabernacle with man. Christ in
us, our hope and glory. Christ in us, which
brings a hope of a future kingdom, and yet
because Christ is in us, also a sense that in
part the kingdom has already come.
Let me ask, have you, have we, fellowship
in the Mystery today Is Christ in us, in
you; the only hope, the only glory You see
‘The Mystery,’ Christ in us, is a test to see
if we are in the faith, Lets look at 2 Corinthians
13:5. “Try your own selves, whether
ye are in the faith; prove your own selves.
Or know ye not as to your own selves, that
Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed ye be
reprobate.” Are we having fellowship in
the Mystery Is Christ in you Do you pass
or fail the test Are we in the Faith
What else do we have fellowship in
Philippians 1:4–5 says “Your fellowship
(koinonia – participation) in the Gospel.”
So what’s Paul saying here According
to Lightfoot, throughout this Epistle Paul
thanks the Church for their practical aid towards
the Gospel, but not only for time and
the effort put in. According to Lightfoot
the Greek is very specific, the prefix before
‘koinonia’ denotes the object, in terms of
money paid in. So in other words Paul’s
fellowship with the Gospel denotes financial
fellowship to help with its propagation,
not only did they put in the effort, they contributed
to the cost. Let me ask, how is our
Moriel South Africa
fellowship in the Gospel today
What else do we have fellowship in
Philippians 3:10: “that I may know him,
and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed
unto his death.” The fellowship of
His sufferings! So often we focus on the
“Power”, the ‘dunamis’ of the Spirit. So
often the Church focuses on the miracles,
healings, tongues and prophecy but in the
context of scripture the Church is focusing
on the wrong things. We forget and neglect
the fellowship of suffering. We forget about
being conformed to His death because suffering
and death are not popular doctrines
to a church that sees itself as victoriously
triumphant, kings kids and heirs to the
anointing. Ralf Martin in his commentary
said that “The Apostles represented Christ
so completely, that there was an expectation
to share in the cost.” Are we willing to
share in the cost today Are we willing to
share in the fellowship of His suffering so
that we may know Him and the power of
His resurrection Because we cannot have
one without the other! Or is there no cost to
our present fellowship
So we’ve seen what we have communion,
fellowship, a sharing in common in,
so who do we have fellowship with We
saw last time that Koinonia was exhibited
in the early Church in Acts 2: 42. Scripture
goes on by saying in 2 Corinthians 8: 4 that
we have fellowship in the ministering to
the saints. Galatians 2: 9 says that it is good
to give the right hand of fellowship to fellow
workers for the gospel’s sake. But all
this fellowship though, great and good as
it is, is technically man centred. What we
must understand is that although fellowship
can be man centred it cannot be complete
unless it is focused on the Tri-unity of the
Godhead. God the Father, God the Son and
God the Holy Spirit.
So let’s first look at fellowship in the
Spirit. Philippians 2:1. “If there is therefore
any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation
of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any
tender mercies and compassions,” So why
do we need the fellowship of the Spirit
Firstly because, according to Philippians
2: 2 in the NASB, the Spirit brings unity.
He makes us of one accord.
Secondly, The Spirit leads us into all
Truth as we see in John 16: 13.
Thirdly, The Spirit points us only to Jesus.
John 16: 14.
If we want or desire to be united, then
we need the fellowship of the Spirit. If we
want to be led into all Truth, then we had
better have fellowship with the Spirit. If we
want fellowship with Jesus, then fellowship
with the Spirit is needed. And if you
haven’t fellowship in the Spirit today, you
cannot be saved because we need the Spirit
September 2012 • Moriel Quarterly 15