“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8
In the cool of the day when God was walking in the Garden of Eden, Adam heard a voice from Him, asking him, “where are you?” It did not surprise Adam when he heard that voice, for he knew that voice, but it was of different type to him this time. Instead of God blessing him, the way he did when he created him, or communicating with him, he was inquiring this time of whereabouts of His creature.
God knew where Adam was, yet he questioned him. Why was it so? Like wise Adam knew where God was, yet he was shy to face God this time; he was afraid to face Him this time. His response to God’s question was different. He gave God an enigmatic reply that he was afraid, naked etc.
God blessed him and put in the Garden of Eden to replenish, subdue earth, eat fruits and vegetables, and have dominion over animals and fowls in the air, with one but only one order that he should not eat the forbidden fruit. But Adam yielded to his wife Eve and did that which God prohibited him to do. That was the reason why God questioned him this time, rather than having a plain communication. Adam, the creature of God, was not a puppet. So God gave him free will to choose good and bad. But Adam misused his free will and disobeyed God.
Unfortunately, man cherished fellowship with Satan, and ended up being expelled from Garden of Eden. Satan, a cunning cheat asked Eve, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" When human being seeks fellowship with Satan, he/she encounters this kind of questions. Satan makes fool of us and drags us into his net, if we are not careful and do not depend upon God. Paul admonishes us not to have fellowship with Darkness where evil sprits live.
Paul calls us to have fellowship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:9
“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful”
He admonishes not eat anything offered to devils. He wants us to realize that behind idols there are evil spirits.
1 Corinthians 10:20
“No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons”
He also admonishes us not to have any fellowship with darkness; rather he wants us to expose sin.
Ephesians 5:11
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them”
Our obligations, therefore, as children of God, having fellowship with one another are that we should pray for one another, and help one another as the Bible guides us through these verses:
Philippians Chapter 1:3-6
“3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Fellowship is one of the keys to spiritual growth. It helps Christians share their walk with God in an atmosphere of love and respect. Fellowship helps everyone communicate in love with other believers, which in turn helps whole assembly getting strengthened. Fellowship may require confession of faults as we read in James 5:6. We need to strive to develop a unity and mind. Those who work to hinder the fellowship of the brethren practice a sin that is hated by God. Proverbs 6:19. The term “fellowship” includes both union and communion, which was the core idea that brought the Corinthian believers into union with the Lord Jesus Christ. Dictionary meaning of fellowship is “Companionship”, “friendliness”, “participation”, “sharing”, and “community of interest”.
Let us as members of the family of our Lord Jesus Christ share in one another’s problems, pray for one another and glorify our God.