Bible Study on fellowship:
Ephesians 5:11 says,
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Introduction:
As believers, God has called us to walk in the light. When we were in the world, we lived according to the desires of the flesh, going anywhere, saying anything, and doing whatever pleased us. But once we received the Holy Ghost and were baptized in the name of Jesus, our identity changed. We don’t belong to darkness anymore, we belong to God.
However, the world will still try to pull us back into old environments, old habits, and old atmospheres. This is why Ephesians 5:11 gives us a clear instruction: do not fellowship with the works of darkness.
This doesn’t just mean don’t sin. It means don’t place yourself in environments where sin is being encouraged, entertained, normalized, or celebrated. The atmosphere you stay in will eventually influence your spirit.
1. What Does “No Fellowship” Mean?
The word fellowship means to share, participate in, or be connected with.
So when God says “have no fellowship” He means:
Don’t be comfortable in it.
Don’t stay around it.
Don’t allow yourself to be influenced by it.
You may not be doing the sin, but just being in the atmosphere of it feeds the flesh.
1 Thessalonians 5:22
“Abstain from every form of evil.”
If the atmosphere is toxic to your spirit, God does not want you there.
2. What Are the “Unfruitful Works of Darkness”?
Anything that:
Pulls you away from God
Weakens your conviction
Numbs your prayer life
Awakens old temptations
This includes:
Parties where alcohol and lust are present
Clubs / Bars where the goal is to stimulate fleshly desire
Strip clubs and sexualized entertainment
Friends’ gatherings where gossip, vulgarity, drugs, or ungodly music set the tone
Even if you say, “I won’t participate,” the environment is shaping your spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:33
“Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Be careful what you get comfortable around, because atmosphere affects appetite.
3. Why Does God Command Separation?
God calls us out of dark environments because:
He is protecting your spiritual growth
He is guarding your deliverance
He is strengthening your identity in Christ
Your walk with God is too valuable to risk by placing yourself in situations that trigger old battles.
2 Corinthians 6:17
“Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.”
Holiness isn’t just behavior, holiness is what you allow your spirit to be surrounded by.
Modern Day Analogy:
Imagine someone trying to live healthy. They are watching their diet and exercising.
But every weekend, their friends invite them to a buffet full of junk food.
They say, “I’m not going to eat anything bad, I’ll just go to hang out.”
But the longer they stay:
The smell influences them
The sight influences them
The people around them influence them
Eventually, they will eat what the environment is serving.
The same is true spiritually.
If the atmosphere is full of lust, profanity, alcohol, and sin, eventually your spirit will weaken, and your flesh will rise.
Environments shape appetite.
Conclusion:
Ephesians 5:11 teaches us to separate from environments of darkness, not because God wants to restrict us, but because He wants to protect and strengthen us.
Your spiritual environment matters. Where you go shapes who you become.
If you want to stay strong in your walk with God, then protect your atmosphere and stay away from places where sin is celebrated.
Choose environments that feed your spirit, not your flesh.
