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    The Joy of Fellowship: Walking with God
    The Joy of Fellowship: Walking with God
    The Joy of Fellowship: Walking with God
    Ebook127 pages1 hour

    The Joy of Fellowship: Walking with God

    By Edward J. Jones

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    Unfortunately, man's nature complicates things, and we often cheat ourselves out of great joy by doing "our own thing." How sad. There is no doubt God's plan for man includes man's happiness.

    God teaches us joyful living in at least two places. Biblically it is called "walking in fellowship." This First Epistle of John focuses on "fellowship." A verse-by-verse expository of that valuable material is extremely helpful.

    Also, the Old Testament prophet Enoch was given to us as a role model. God reduced his life of several years into three short phrases: "He walked with God. He pleased God. He was translated to heaven." God showed his pleasure with his "walk" by taking him up to heaven without his seeing death.

    Skimming along the surface, modern man has developed a superficial lifestyle. You will see the joy of living a life of "fellowship with God" on God's terms.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWestBow Press
    Release dateMar 26, 2013
    ISBN9781449788902
    The Joy of Fellowship: Walking with God
    Author

    Edward J. Jones

    Edward has earned a BA in psychology from Syracuse University; a MSW in counseling from Adelphi University; a MAR in Bible study from Liberty University; a PhD from Christian Bible College, where he wrote his dissertation on 1 John; and completed two years of Bible study at the Bible Institute of Liberty University. Edward’s vocational background has included being a psychological counselor, prison chaplain, charter member of the Academy of Christian Counselors, and working with law enforcement.

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      Book preview

      The Joy of Fellowship - Edward J. Jones

      Copyright © 2013 Edward J. Jones.

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

      WestBow Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

      WestBow Press

      A Division of Thomas Nelson

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.westbowpress.com

      1-(866) 928-1240

      Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

      ISBN: 978-1-4497-8891-9 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4497-8892-6 (hc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4497-8890-2 (e)

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2013904869

      WestBow Press rev. date: 03/20/2013

      Table of Contents

      PART I

      1    Not Left as an Orphan

      2    Life’s Milestones

      3    Where He Wants Us to Be

      4    Keep in Touch

      PART II

      5    The Joy of Fellowship

      6    The Conditions of Fellowship

      7    Walking in Fellowship

      8    Characteristics of Fellowship

      9    Testing the Spirits

      10  The Overcoming Fellowship

      This book is dedicated to Suzanne and Oliver, and all parents who are, Training up a child in the way he should go. Prov 22:6 KJV

      Introduction

      [W]ith everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isa. 35:10 KJV)

      W HEN GOD CREATED US, he created us with a mind and body equipped to keep ongoing contact with him (fellowship). God also gave us hearts to seek him (Heb. 11:6). Prayer has become man’s primary focus of contact with God. However, in the Scriptures, God teaches that our fellowship with him should be much broader and more constant. We will explore that in depth.

      The Bible tells us an Old Testament elder, Enoch, so pleased God that he was one of only two people that God rewarded and took to heaven without knowing death. As wise men, we want to know what Enoch did.

      In addition, John’s first epistle addresses and provides many answers. We will examine how God wants us to be living and coping with our times.

      Researching and writing this book has given me a whole new perspective on praying and having a father-son relationship with God. I want to share it with others, especially twelve-step groups. Remember if we ever stumble seek God and pray for wisdom. God keeps his word.

      Preface

      C HRONIC UNHAPPINESS CHARACTERIZED MY formative years. In my teen years I discovered and began sneaking alcohol. Alcohol was sure the great elixir. I went into adulthood using alcohol to cope with my feelings. Of course alcoholism is a progressive disease, and I was progressing. Like so many had, I had lost my family and was living on the street. The details of my salvation are in the book. However, I was converted one night and became a born-again Christian.

      Up to this time, I had been miserable. I still feel scared when I think how close I came to suicide. Of course, things changed after I was born again. Up to that time, I had keenly observed other people and believed everyone was happy. When God was blessing me, I began to see others in a new light. I began to see many unhappy people. They all needed God’s cure.

      While God was putting my life back together, I started working for various social services agencies. Most were government agencies that forbade counseling about what the people needed most: faith in Christ. I was frustrated and had a burning to share Christ. God led me back to school. When I became qualified, He called me into the prison ministry as a chaplain. I was free to share Christ. There was still a need and I still had a burden, but at least I had the right tools and was free to use them.

      This book is a follow-up to the witness I had in the prisons. It is targeted at unhappy people. God’s way is best.

      Author Biography

      E DWARD JONES IS A seventy-two-year-old man who is living in a senior complex in central Florida. In the same area live a daughter, three granddaughters, four nephews, and a niece. This book addresses a burden developed over a lifetime of dealing with a variety of people in various situations.

      His prior book, Come Up Hither, provided guidance in sharing Christ with terminally ill nursing home patients.

      Edward has earned the following degrees:

      •   BA Syracuse University        Major in psychology

      •   MSW Adelphi University    Counseling credentials

      •   MAR Liberty University      Biblical Design for Christian Living

      •   Bible Institute Liberty University    Two year intensive Bible study

      •   PhD Christian Bible College           Dissertation, 1 John

      Edward has worked in the following areas:

      •   Probation officer

      •   College and church lecturer

      •   Christian councilor

      •   Prison chaplain

      PART I

      1

      Not Left as an Orphan

      S INCE SEPTEMBER 25, 1980, I have known God to be working in my life. On that day, the air had suddenly turned chilly and I was preparing to stretch out on my bed, a bench in a local railroad station. I was totally in the grips of full-blown alcoholism. Life was unbearable. I had lost all: family, career, and self. I had frequently thought of suicide, but I was a drunken coward. That day I had been unable to beg or steal enough alcohol to satisfy my daily craving. I was hurting on so many levels.

      Only God knows why, but for the first time in years, I was sober that night. Miserable, but sober. I was just lying down, worried my blanket wouldn’t be enough, when two well-dressed men sheepishly approached me. After a polite greeting, they switched the subject to heaven. I was really craving some alcohol and would talk to anyone to help me through the night. They asked me, If you were to die tonight, would you go to heaven?

      I didn’t know at the time—but later I became familiar with—the approach of the evangelism explosion. Predictably, I saw the two men as potential suckers who could bankroll a bottle. They asked if I knew God loved me and if they could share with me what the Bible says about me. The two wimpy, little guys took out their Bibles. They suddenly had the confidence of Wall Street bond salesmen.

      At that moment, I could sense things were different, as they became until this day. No one had been polite to me since I had taken to the streets. I undoubtedly smelled. I really was curious about what they had to say. I wanted to hear more what the Bible said. I wasn’t sure what was being said, but it sounded different and good. The miracle God was performing was lifting my alcohol addiction and replacing it with the desire to be closer to the God of the Bible.

      God’s promise is this:

      A new heart also I will give you, and a new spirit I put within you. (Ezek. 36:26 KJV)

      I was blessed beyond belief. The two men hooked me up with a local AA group and a local Baptist preacher. Remembering I was still biblically illiterate, I was a voracious student. God worked through my mentor. After coaching for several years and finishing a series of correspondence courses, he advised me to go back for formal schooling. God opened doors, and I was able to take an early retirement and go to seminary. God continued to provide, and I continued my education through a PhD.

      The pastor also introduced me to an Old Testament hero, Enoch. Not much is written about him, but what is written—three short phrases—is life changing. The three short verses about Enoch are Enoch walked with God … God took him [to heaven] that he should not see death … he had this testimony, that he pleased God (Heb. 11: 5-6 ASV). The first thing we learn about Enoch is he so pleased God that God rewarded him by taking him to heaven without experiencing death. Enoch is one of only two people in all of history who did not die at the end of their earthly lives. What happened to Enoch is certainly interesting and unique. What is it about his walk that is valuable to us? That will be the purpose of this writing.

      I am authoring a book about fellowship with God because I have been so blessed and want to do whatever I can to share my blessing; I have enjoyed a great life. God certainly has favored me. I have been active

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