3 John Peace be to you

INTRO

Open your Bible to 3rd John

Quick review of this short book: Written by John the beloved to Guias, showing us a glimpse into church life and reminding us of the truth.

Last week we reminded ourselves of the plan that we are a part of. We all have a beautiful part to play in it.

Now we have to see how there are people that are against the plan and what we should do about it.

Pray

BODY

English Standard Version Chapter 1

9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

-John wrote another letter that we are assuming was destroyed by this Diotrephes. He warns Guias about this man because he is a man doing evil things, yet part of church leadership or the church body. There is nothing worse than selfishness in the church. Thankfully John does not brush this aside but addresses it and will address it when he comes to them.

-This is nothing new that leaders in the church can be happening

English Standard Version Chapter 11

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

And before that, Jesus himself warned us about it in Matthew 7

English Standard Version Chapter 7

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

He doesn’t put this out as a gossip but as an action to confront the evil that Diotrephes is doing.

So this would be a good time to take a heart check and see if we are being a diotrephes because, whether we know it or not, it could sneak up on us if we are not walking in the truth.

Evidence that you are a Diotrephes

1. You put yourself first

English Standard Version Chapter 1

but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first

John is not judging Diotrophes, it is the evidence of his life. It is all about him.

-Everything is about you. You yourself and I are what you worship, not the living God.

-This is the opposite of what you were created for. You were made as an image bearer, to reflect God who is selfless, love, truth, mercy and compassion.

The remedy: Have the same mind as Christ!

English Standard Version Chapter 2

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2. Don’t acknowledge the authority of the Bible

-Let’s step on a bomb shall we? The authority continues to be challenged, pushed against, and questioned and yet more and more evidence continues to show it to be true. However even those who say it is God’s word, don’t read it.

-Diotrophes destroyed John’s letter, but are we doing the same by keep our Bibles closed? Just a thought?

-Does Josh have another message? Not really, because it isn’t about an action it is about knowing Jesus. In the beginning was the word and the word was God and the word was with God.

Remedy: Let the word dwell richly in you!

English Standard Version Chapter 3

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

3. Refusing to welcome the brothers

-Anti-fellowship. Sounds like boarderline gnostic where there is this pride that does not want to welcome in other brothers or sisters that could contribute to the fellowship.

-He wanted to be the main show and no one else can be in his spotlight. When we have no desire to walk in fellowship and see others succeed in their giftings of God we are on the ferris wheel of Diotrephes were we are selfish, unwilling to yeild to God and therefore become complacent and controlling.

So, how do we stay away from this? How do we walk in the truth, in love and is it possible? Absolutley it is and John shows us it isn’t just the apostles that can do it. Let’s keep reading.

Remedy: Receive God’s love to love others

English Standard Version Chapter 4

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

We can’t love unless we know God’s love. It has to flow from him other wise it will be superficial and even about us if we are not careful.

Let’s keep reading John’s wisdom in dealing with this situation.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

-John shares the basic principle that he has shown us in 1 John 4. If you know God, you love others.If you don’t, you don’t know God. Doesn’t mean you confess something, go to church, have a christian screensaver, christian t-shirt, or even a pastor of a booming church. Your life lived is what counts. How do you talk to your spouse? How do you love your children. How is your prayer life? How is your heart for missions and for caring for the poor?

-Demetrius is possibly one of the traveling brothers that John mentioned and yet we are not fully sure. Yet he has a good testimony from everyone and from the truth itself. What is John talking about here?

Having a good testimony is a life lived and seen by others of truth and love.

-This is my prayer for myself, my family and this church community. That our lives lived would be a testimony of the living God. That our testimony of who we are would not come from our own lips, but from others.

-A testimony that is true is seen by others.

-Let’s finish this letter and see one more thing that is important to John.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.

-John was a relational person, a relationship pastor where he wanted everyone greeted by name because he cared about each person. His desire to be face to face should be something that we take to heart.

-Something I will miss about this church on sabbatical is the relationships that are here. Yes, I’m not best friends with everyone but I hope you know that I am willing and wanting to connect with all of you.

—May we be a face to face church. Relationships are more important today than every because of technology, business, et.c But also because that is how Christ is formed in us.

-We love because he first loved us. So we fellowship with God, then fellowship with others. That’s how we stay away from becoming a diotrophes and we can walk in a testimony that our lived have been transformed, we are wanting to live love and serve like Jesus wherever and whenever.