Love in God's Family - 6

The next illustration David uses about fellowship is that it is Like Dew falling on a Mountain

The dew that falls on a mountain drenches the leaves and grasses and gently drips down, filling streams and watering valleys – bringing growth and fruitfulness. So, the gentle rain of the Holy Spirit brings life to the entire Church family. It is the same Spirit that trickles down from person to person producing life and fruitfulness.

The picture is similar to the oil on Aaron, the high priest. There is a trickle down of the blessing. The mountains mentioned (Hermon) feed the Jordan River, the life-blood of Israel.

Brother and sister affection in Christ is about sharing the anointing of the Holy Spirit with one another. It includes the use of the spiritual gifts and the kind deeds the Spirit helps us to do for one another. In this way, the Spirit is shared and our fellowship is deeply satisfying and provides a taste of the love the Father, Son and Spirit share.

Acts 2.42ff describes the early church experience of this fellowship:

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Picture the believers enjoying these things together:

§ Studying the Word of God and learning together and from each other

§ Sharing fellowship by meeting each others’ needs, sharing experiences, helping those in trouble, facing challenges together, celebrating milestones.

§ Breaking bread together – eating together and in particular sharing the Lord’s Supper – ministering to the Body of Christ – worshipping together.

§ Praying together – seeking God’s help and advice with and for each other.

Acts 4.23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.