The Cancer in the Church

The church is considered the body of Christ, many times Paul refers to us as a body, and even says that no matter what our gifts are, we are needed, as the body needs all of its parts. Yet when sins are present in the church, it hurts us functioning as a body. One of the biggest, yet not talked about, is that of a divisive spirit. In the church in this passage there is that spiritual cancer. There is this man named Diotrephes who not much is known about except seems to be a leader and a Gentile as his name means “nourished by jupiter. The Apostle John writes unto Gaius and says that this mans so divisive he wouldn’t let the apostles come. He would also kick people out of the church who did receive them. At times there have been churches that divide into multiple, not over doctrine, but because of a church fight over some minor issue that gets taken too far. Other churches split over personality. That was one of the problems with the church at Corinth, is they said they follow after different personalities and dividing over who even baptized them. Churches split or local Bible believing Baptist churches quit having fellowship with one another due to being in different camps, or someone who associates with another school or preacher. A divisive spirit can be very hard to spot. However Christians need to know how to get rid of this spiritual cancer.

Let’s do a diagnosis on this spiritual cancer.

Cause

Diotrephes loved to have the preeminence

Preeminence eminent above or before others; superior; surpassing:

This word is used 3 times in the Bible

Colossians 1:16-18 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Two different Greek words

Colossians 1 prwteuw (prote-yoo’-o) To be first

3 John filoprwteuw (fil-op-rote-yoo’-o)desire to be first

When someone is wanting to be preeminent they are wanting everything to be about them, it is old fashioned pride

Oldest sin there is

Fall of Satan and Adam and Eve

Someone who wants the prememinece will only want spotlight

When someone at church gets upset because someone else got recognized they make the ministry all about them they want to be in the spotlight.

Pride is a killer in the local church because we end up thinking we know or are as important as God.

Symptoms

Prating with malicious words

talk foolishly or at tedious length about something.

Twice in Proverbs, it says a prating fool shall fall

Proverbs 10:8-10 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

Proverbs 10:10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

When we have a divisive spirit we’ll talk about people for the longest time

We’ll spend all of our time talking and no time praying for them

Well spend all of our time talking bad about them and trying to pull them down

Not content therewith

Someone with a divisive spirit will fall into this I need more, it is not good enough that I am where I am at, but I must put others down

Others threaten them

They are so weak

Not receive the brethren

He would be divisive to where he divides people on the basis of what he wants them to do

Churches split

Spirtually- Cliques

Physical church splits

There is no unity and the church will be divided against itself

Cure

Follow God

Christians need to follow God and obey the Bible

The Bible says that the Lord resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God.

We as Christians need to humble ourselves and recognize that Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.

God saved us and gave us the ability to live a new life

Christians need to watch what they say

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers

Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt,

The tongue can either get rid of problems or cause more

Christians need to pray more that God works in the lives of people not talking

Christians need to be content because God has given us all we need,

Godliness with contentment is great gain

Christians need to quit playing favorites and love the brethren

My brethren have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, with respect of persons

Conclusion

This world is lost and dying, and going to hell.They are asking questions, yet we are stuttering to answer them because we are too busy yelling at other believers for little things. And our churches are being hindered. God cannot work when we are living in sin, but that is why we need to recognize and repent, so we can live lives pleasing to God and He can use us. The need in this world is too big for us to be dying on molehills.