The Divine Fellowship Is Everything in the Christian Life

 

The Divine Fellowship Is Everything in the Christian Life

2 Cor. 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
Rev. 22:1 – “And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street.”
1 John 1:6-7 – “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from every sin.” 

Aspect	The Divine Fellowship Is Everything in the Christian Life
Meaning	The divine fellowship is the circulation and participation of the divine life between the Triune God and the believers (koinonia). It is the reality and essence of the Christian life. Without fellowship, there is no presence or supply of God (2 Cor. 13:14; Rev. 22:1). Through fellowship, God and man are interwoven and mingled, bringing growth and transformation in life.
Reason	1. God comes as fellowship through the Spirit’s flow. 2. Without fellowship, God seems to “disappear”; just as without current there is no electricity. 3. Fellowship is the basis for the Body of Christ to be kept in oneness (1 Cor. 10:16-18; 12:24-25). 4. Vertical and horizontal fellowship are interconnected; one cannot exist fully without the other.
Method	1. By the two spirits: Enter the vertical fellowship through the divine Spirit (Phil. 2:1; 2 Cor. 13:14), and the horizontal fellowship through the exercise of the human spirit (1 Tim. 4:7; 2 Cor. 6:6). 2. Through the cross: Deny the self and remove barriers to fellowship (Matt. 16:24). 3. By the Word and prayer: Speak in spirit, not in a worldly way (Eph. 6:18). 4. Through the Spirit and the cross: Fellowship is deepened and renewed.
Function	1. Mingle and interweave believers with the Triune God, resulting in growth in life (Lev. 2:4-5). 2. Correct, shape, and reconstitute us by adding divine elements. 3. Preserve the Body of Christ in oneness and advance the ministry. 4. Remove individualism and division, making fellowship the center of Christian living. 5. Blend us together into one Body.
Examples	1. The early church “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship” (Acts 2:42). 2. Paul’s blessing of “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (2 Cor. 13:14). 3. John’s exhortation, “if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another” (1 John 1:7). 4. The river of water of life flowing in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 22:1).
Application	1. Personally: Exercise the spirit daily, maintain vertical fellowship with the Lord, deny the self. 2. Corporately: Actively participate in fellowship with the saints, open the heart, and be blended. 3. Daily life: In conversations, meetings, and service, live in the spirit, not in natural disposition. 4. For building: Preserve the Body in oneness and carry out God’s economy through fellowship.
Relevant Scriptures	Lev. 2:4-5 – “When you present an offering of a meal offering baked in an oven, it shall be of fine flour, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. And if your offering is a meal offering on the griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil.” (a type of mingling and fellowship). 1 Cor. 10:16-17 – “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the fellowship of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the fellowship of the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one Body; for we all partake of the one bread.” 1 Cor. 12:24-25 – “But God has tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member that lacked, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.” 1 John 1:3 – “That which we have seen and heard we report also to you, that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” Matt. 16:24 – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”

  Conclusion: 

The divine fellowship is the essence of the Christian life. It is both vertical (with God) and horizontal (with one another). By the Spirit and through the cross, believers are blended together with God and one another, producing the reality of the Body of Christ. Without fellowship, God’s presence and the building of the Body cannot be realized. 

 

*Please refer to the June 2025 Summer Training, General Topic: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (Part 3), Chapter 10: Shepherding According to God

“Returning to Grace vs Entering Grace vs Remaining in Grace vs Standing in Grace vs Enjoying Grace vs Ministering Grace”

 

“Returning to Grace vs Entering Grace vs Remaining in Grace vs Standing in Grace vs Enjoying Grace vs Ministering Grace”

Romans 5:2 Through him we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Ephesians 1:6 So that we may be praised for the glory of his grace which he has graciously given us in those who are beloved.

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any corrupting word come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up, as needed, so that grace may be offered to those who hear.

Acts 20:32 Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Galatians 5:4 You who seek justification by the law have been separated from Christ and fallen away from grace.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and obtain grace to help us in our time. 

Item	Returning to Grace	Entering Grace	Remaining in Grace	Standing in Grace	Enjoying Grace	Ministering Grace
Meaning	Being restored to the sphere of God's enjoyment after drifting away	Being brought into God's enjoyment through justification	Continuing in the realm of grace	Firmly established in grace	Experiencing and enjoying the Triune God	Supplying to others the Christ we enjoy
Reason	Fellowship has been interrupted	God desires to bring man into Himself	Believers can drift away through the self, flesh, or world	Satan seeks to move believers away from grace	God desires man to enjoy Him	God desires grace to flow through His people
Illustration	The prodigal son returning home	Entering a royal palace	Remaining in the Father's house	Standing upon a rock	Enjoying a rich feast	Distributing food to others
Explanation	Confessing sins and applying the precious blood	Justified by faith into grace	Remaining in divine fellowship	Trusting God's supply instead of self-effort	Enjoying Christ as life, peace, joy, and strength	Ministering Christ through speaking, shepherding, and prayer
Result	Fellowship restored	Reconciliation with God	Continuous fellowship	Stability and victory	Spiritual satisfaction and supply	Building up the saints and the church
Purpose	Recover fellowship	Enter divine dispensing	Continue in divine dispensing	Be established in divine dispensing	Experience and express God	Become a channel of divine dispensing
Spiritual Position	The restored one	The entering one	The abiding one	The standing one	The enjoying one	The ministering one
Stage of Divine Dispensing	Restoration	Initiation	Continuation	Establishment	Rich experience	Overflow and transmission
Biblical Example	Peter restored (John 21)	The justified tax collector (Luke 18:13-14)	Abiding in the vine  (John 15)	Standing in grace (Rom. 5:2)	Mary at the Lord's feet (Luke 10:39)	Paul ministering grace (1 Cor. 15:10)
Practical Application	Immediately confess and return to the Lord	Receive Christ by faith daily	Maintain prayer and fellowship	Live by faith rather than feelings	Enjoy the Lord in His Word and Spirit	Supply life to others
Ministry Burden	Bring believers back to grace	Lead people into God's enjoyment	Preserve believers in grace	Establish believers in grace	Lead believers into the enjoyment of the Triune God	Produce the flow of grace for the Body
Speaking/Prophesying Direction	Testify of restoration through grace	Proclaim salvation by grace	Encourage abiding in Christ	Testify of standing by faith	Share experiences of Christ	Minister grace to build others
Conclusion	Restoration	Beginning	Continuance	Stability	Experience	Ministry
Key Scriptures	Romans 5:1-2  Entering and standing in grace  Romans 5:11      Rejoicing in God Galatians 5:4  Falling away from grace  Hebrews 4:16      Coming to the throne of grace Jude 21  Keeping ourselves in God's love  John 15:4-5     Abiding in Christ Ephesians 1:6  Grace in the Beloved  Ephesians 4:29        Ministering grace to hearers Acts 20:32      The word of grace builds up  Luke 4:22           Words of grace Isaiah 50:4-5 Speaking a word in season  Psalm 133          Dew and oneness 1 Corinthians 15:10  Grace operating in Paul  Revelation 22:1-2            The river of life

 

The Spiritual Sequence and Relationship

Order	Spiritual Progression
1	Enter Grace through justification by faith (Rom. 5:2)
↓
2	Stand in Grace by faith
↓
3	Remain in Grace through fellowship
↓
4	Enjoy Grace through the divine dispensing
↓
5	Minister Grace to others
↓
6	Whenever failure occurs, Return to Grace through confession and the cleansing blood
↓
Cycle	Enter a deeper enjoyment and experience of grace

 

Spiritual Core Vision

Aspect	Revelation
What Grace Is	Grace is not merely a blessing but the processed and consummated Triune God enjoyed by man.
Entering Grace	Being brought into God Himself as our enjoyment.
Remaining in Grace	Living continuously in divine fellowship.
Standing in Grace	Being firmly established in God's supply.
Enjoying Grace	Experiencing Christ as everything.
Ministering Grace	Allowing God to flow through us to others.
Returning to Grace	Recovering the divine fellowship whenever it is interrupted.

 

Spiritual Picture

Picture	Spiritual Meaning
Tree of Life	Entering Grace
Vine and Branches	Remaining in Grace
House on the Rock	Standing in Grace
Rich Feast	Enjoying Grace
Flowing River	Ministering Grace
Prodigal Son Returning	Returning to Grace
Dew of Hermon (Psalm 133)	Corporate enjoyment of grace in the church life

 

Practical Application Today

Area	Application
Personal Life	Daily contact the Lord through prayer and His Word
Failures	Immediately confess and return to grace
Church Life	Remain in fellowship and oneness
Service	Minister Christ rather than mere teachings
Meetings	Share experiences of Christ as grace
Relationships	Become channels of grace to others

 

Ministry Burden

Ministry Burden
God's economy is not primarily about work but about enjoying Christ.
Grace is the means by which the Triune God dispenses Himself into His people.
The greatest danger is not merely sin but departing from the sphere of grace.
Church life is a corporate enjoyment of grace.
Genuine ministry is the overflow of enjoyed grace.
Those who enjoy grace become ministers of grace.

 

Prophesying Guidance

Topic	Direction
Returning to Grace	Testify of the Lord's restoring mercy
Entering Grace	Declare justification by faith
Remaining in Grace	Encourage abiding in fellowship
Standing in Grace	Testify of stability through faith
Enjoying Grace	Share experiences of Christ
Ministering Grace	Supply grace for the building up of the Body

 

One-Sentence Prophesying Summary

Grace is the processed and consummated Triune God as our enjoyment; we enter grace by faith, remain in grace through fellowship, stand in grace by faith, enjoy grace through divine dispensing, minister grace to others for the building up of the Body, and whenever we fail, we return to grace through the cleansing blood.

Ultimate Conclusion

The goal of God's salvation is not merely forgiveness but bringing believers into the realm of grace, where the processed and consummated Triune God becomes their enjoyment. Through faith we enter grace, through fellowship we remain in grace, through faith we stand in grace, through experience we enjoy grace, through ministry we dispense grace, and through confession and the cleansing blood we continually return to grace. This ongoing cycle of divine dispensing builds up the Body of Christ and ultimately consummates in the New Jerusalem.

 

*Please refer to the 2026 Spring International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Theme: The Ministry of the Word and the Imparting of God for His Economy, Week 7: The eternal blessing that the Triune God imparts into us for our enjoyment and to fulfill His economy.