Sermon Tone Analysis

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*The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

3 John 1-2 (NASB95)*

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*Intro*: We’ve spent many weeks now looking at the 2 & 3 letters of John and by now you should know their theme: truth and love.

For the aging apostle John, truth was the gospel, the teachings of Scripture, and the person of Christ.

Truth as he knew it shone like a light in the darkness of error, an error that played games with the gospel, the teachings of Scripture, and the person of Christ.

The love John wrote of in his letters was not earthly but extraterrestrial; it was a divine love ultimately expressed in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and embodied in God Himself.

The third epistle of John could be looked at as a case study in the principles of truth and love.

In it there are two men in contrast: one living out a balance of truth (Gaius and love and the other living out of balance (Demetrius).

This morning we’ll learn from Gaius what a man living in balance looks like.

John begins his letter…

 

*The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

3 John 1 (NASB95)*

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Gaius was one of the commonest names in ancient Roman times, like John or David today, so we don’t know exactly who Gaius was.

He could have been the host of a house church or a leader in one of the churches John oversaw.

Note that he calls him “beloved.”

That word is formed from the word we learned that represents divine love, the Greek agape.

John expressed not just a friendly or emotional love for Gaius, he expressed a love that only those bound together in Christ can have.

As Christians we share a bond that transcends biological family ties.

John then delivers a prayer for Gaius and in that prayer we discover the first evidence of living out a balance of truth and love is spiritual health.*

*[1]**

 

*Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.**

3 John 2 (NASB95)*

 

Maybe Gaius was having health problems physically and John was saying, “I know you aren’t feeling well, my brother, and I pray that your physical body’s condition will match up with your spiritual.”

What a commendation coming from the apostle who told like it was.

Gaius’ soul was prospering; he was fit spiritually.”

It is ironic that we live in a nation of overweight, unhealthy people, yet we are fascinated, obsessed even, with health and fitness.

Look at all the TV commercials, the books, the talk shows.

Oh, that we were s concerned about our spiritual fitness!

How does one get spiritually fit?

The same way one gets physically fit…

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*I.                    **A healthy diet*

If you don’t eat healthy foods you won’t be healthy, although I have my doubts about following the advice of the experts these days.

One day they tell you “eat this” and you’ll be healthy and the next they say “don’t eat that, you’ll die.”

I’m just holding on to the hope that one they’ll say “eat a supersonic breakfast burrito everyday.”

If they do, I’ll live forever!

I like what one guy wrote…

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The claims that oats bring vibrant health

Have me puzzled plenty,

For horses eat them all their lives

And they are old at twenty.

—C.

R. Reagan[2]

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Jesus showed us the staple of a healthy diet for a Christian in the wilderness temptations…

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*But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4 (NASB95)*

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So to be healthy spiritually we must get into the Word.

Other books and studies are fine but they must be your sides, not the main course.

* *

So Gaius must have been in the Word.

But there’s more to spiritual health than diet, you must also…

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*II.

**Exercise*

Now I can come closer to eating right than I can exercising.

Exercise takes discipline.

Paul spoke of this…

*In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.

But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women.

On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:6-8 (NASB95) *

 

Exercising in a spiritual sense is putting into practice what God has revealed to us in His Word.

It’s training yourself, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, to avoid sin and error, to minister, to love like Christ.

The local church plays a big role in this.

It’s like a spiritual gym where we come to receive training and receive opportunities to minister.

*As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10 (NASB95)*

 

Speaking of that, church attendance nourishes and strengthens the spiritual life, but recent research has also shown other benefits.

People who regularly attend church live longer.

In studying the relationship between religion and health, researchers came upon a strong and persuasive finding: Those who did not attend church lived an average of 75 years; less than weekly attendance, lived 80 years; once a week 82 years; and those who attended church more than once a week lived an average of 83 years.

Research indicates a person attending church weekly is less likely to become depressed, and more likely to exercise, quit smoking, and stop drinking.[3]

To be spiritually healthy like Gaius we must eat a healthy diet, exercise, and lastly…

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*III.

**Rest*

Now of all three, this is hands down the hardest, especially when we consider  the fast paced world we live in.

Max Lucado wrote about this in his book /The Angels Were Silent/…

Ever feel like you’re racing downhill on a runaway bike and you don’t remember how to brake?

Ever feel the wheels of your life racing faster and faster as you speed past the people you love?

Could you use a reminder on how to slow it all down?

If so, read what Jesus did during the last Sabbath of his life.

Start in the Gospel of Matthew.

Didn’t find anything?

Try Mark.

Read what Mark recorded about the way Jesus spent the Sabbath.

Nothing there either?

Strange.

What about Luke?

What does Luke say?

Not a reference to the day?

Not a word about it?

Well, try John.

Surely John mentions the Sabbath.

He doesn’t?

No reference?

Hmmmm.

Looks like Jesus was quiet that day.

“Wait a minute.

That’s it?”

That’s it.

“You mean with one week left to live, Jesus observed the Sabbath?”

As far as we can tell.

“You mean with all those apostles to train and people to teach, he took a day to rest and worship?”

Apparently so.

“You’re telling me that Jesus thought worship was more important than work?”

That’s exactly what I’m telling you.

For such is the purpose of the Sabbath.