Union and Communion

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Many Christians desire Union and Communion (or fellowship) with our Lord Jesus..
Many feel that they do not enjoy the Union and Communion (fellowship) they desire.

Many believers confuse Union with Communion (or fellowship)
Union and Communion (or fellowship) are NOT the same thing.

UNION is the Eternal Relationship that a believer receives when born again.
UNION can never ever be stopped.
- it can never be stopped interrupted or ended..
– for ever and ever Amen.

COMMUNION (or fellowship) is what may be Entered Into – by the believer…
COMMUNION (or fellowship) is a Temporal Relationship – here on earth…
COMMUNION (or fellowship) may be Lost or Left… but must be maintained…

HOW is Union and Communion (or fellowship) attained and maintained…..?
HOW is this achieved and preserved …. ?

Well SCRIPTURE tells us…..

First Union:-
All UNSAVED mankind is offered an opportunity – to become united with Christ,
Some choose to believe on Jesus Christ and are saved – that’s Union – period.

So all who are thirsty – come and drink
They drink – That is believe – which results in SALVATION
The bottom line is BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved….
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will have union with God and Christ.

Once Saved – union is an Eternal Relationship – entered into by a new believer
UNION cannot ever be Lost or Left or Removed by anyone or anything – Forever

Next COMMUNION – or Fellowship:-
All BELIEVERS have opportunity to enjoy Communion or Fellowship with Him.

Many feel that they do not enjoy the Communion or Fellowship they crave.
The reason is that Fellowship can be blocked – Communions may cease

This is not the fault of God -
It lies exclusively in the hand of the believer.
If fellowship ceases – it is the responsibility of the individual Christian – not God.
Believers are those that drank of the Living Water.
– which means they became a believer and received salvation.

And it is thru the believer alone – that rivers of Gods Living Water flow..
And this is the work that the Holy Spirit wants to do in every believer.

Union with Christ is the first step towards conformity into His image
And this is the work that the Holy Spirit wants to produce in all believers
He wants to produce Christ in our life – at any time and at all times

The Christian Life should be an outflow of God Himself – thru the believer
This should be the normal experience of a Christian – but it is not usual !!!!

So what can a believer DO to make this happen…. ?
Well the answer is  nothing.. nothing ….
– you can do nothing to make this happen.

You can do nothing to cause the outflow of God Himself to flow through you,
The believer is only a conduit, thru whom the Living Water may flow.

BUT the believer can do something to stop this Christ Life flowing thru him,
The Believer can halt God’s desired outflow thru him or her,
The Christian can block the work of the Holy Spirit within a believer.

How you ask…. ? Well very simply -
And as always Scripture gives the answer
- read Ephesians 4:30 – do not GRIEVE the Spirit.
- read 1 Thessalonians 5:19– do not QUENCH the Spirit.

The Spirit will never ever leave a believer, who has an Eternal Union,
But fellowship with God can be blocked… if we Grieve or Quench The Holy Spirit.

Communion or Fellowship can be lost –
And it is the believer that has been told what to do to rectify this matter….

How do you GRIEVE the Spirit of God ? – Scripture gives the answer,
How do you QUENCH the Spirit of God ? – Scripture gives the answer,
SIN is the simple answer.. but how few understand what sin really is…

Sin comes in many guises and disguises and how we love to hide or ignore it.
We can sin overtly – that is that we can sin with and outward act…
We can sin by mental attitude -  which is a sinful deed carried out in the mind,
We can sin motivationally – which is a good deed done for the wrong reason.
How simple it is to sin !!!!
And how easy to pretend outwardly that we are not sinning!!

But God looks on the heart – even if we manage to deceive others!!!!!!!!!
So sin Grieves and Quenches the work of the Holy Spirit within the believer

And sin Blocks Communion and Fellowship with God and with the Lord Jesus.
But many of us do not have a right understanding of what sin is…

Sin is what God hates – for God is Holy and commands his children to be Holy
And yes – SCRIPTURE gives the answer… as we see in Proverbs:6
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him..
1 A proud look,
2 A lying tongue,
3 Hands that shed innocent blood,
4 A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
5 Feet that are swift in running to mischief
6 A false witness that speaketh lies,
7 He that soweth discord among brethren.

You don’t do any of these things..?? well look again… !!
Some are overt sins..
Many can be seen as motivational sins,
But ALL have connection with mental attitude.

Blood may not drip from the end of a knife of hate, bitterness or unforgiveness..
But our thoughts and attitudes and motives may commit murder every day.

This is how I destroy  Communion and Fellowship with MY Lord Jesus,
And this is what destroys Communion and Fellowship with YOUR Lord Jesus.
We need to examine ourselves to see if we are in Fellowship or not.
If not – it could be that we have Grieved or Quenched the Holy Spirit in our life

Union and Communion (or fellowship) are NOT the same thing.

UNION is the Eternal Relationship a believer receives when born again,
UNION can never ever be stopped, interrupted or ended.

COMMUNION (or fellowship) is what may be Entered into – by the believer…
COMMUNION (or fellowship) is a Temporal Relationship – here on earth
COMMUNION (or fellowship) may be Lost… but should be maintained…

UNION is the Eternal Relationship
that can never ever be stopped, interrupted or ended…
– for ever and ever
Amen.

with kind permission of Danny Hahlbohm  inspired-art.com
© 2013 Danny Hahlbohm, all rights reserved by the artist

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Union and Communion - part 1

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A Study : GROWING in GRACE

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