2 John 12-13 - Face to Face

Introduction

[READING - 2 John 12-13]

2 John 12–13 NASB95

12 Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full. 13 The children of your chosen sister greet you.

[PRAYER]

Major Ideas

Message #1: “More help is coming” (v. 12a)

2 John 12 NASB95

12 Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.

[EXP] As John closed his letter, he still had many other things to communicate to his readers.

No doubt John desired to elaborate on what he had written about in 2 John.

His love for them.

God’s grace, mercy, and peace in Jesus Christ.

Walking in truth and love.

False teachers, the nature of their deceptions, and preparing oneself to confront it.

But whatever the case, John said that he didn’t want to communicate with paper and ink but face-to-face or mouth-to-mouth.

There’s nothing wrong with paper and ink. In our digital age, people discard paper and ink, but I’m a big fan of paper and ink.

[ILLUS] I once saw a story about some athlete who had done something wrong. He issued an apology in paper and ink—he wrote a hand-written letter to say he was sorry.

One reporter covering the story said, “Who does this anymore? Who sits down and scribbles out a letter by hand?”

Well, I do from time to time, and John did as he wrote this letter to this church…

…but sometimes paper and ink won’t do.

Sometimes the communication has to be face-to-face.

Like text-messaging or email, its difficult to communicate tone and nuance in paper and ink.

No one can see your facial expressions or hear your heart in your voice when writing with paper and ink.

Face-to-face communication is better for those sorts of things, so John hopes to come speak to them face-to-face.

In all of this, John told his readers, “More help is coming.”

[ILLUS] A few weeks ago I called ADT, the alarm company that we use here at the church.

…

I had been helped by ADT, but I needed more help! But no more help is coming from ADT!

But there was more help coming for John’s readers. He hoped to soon be among them in the flesh.

[APP] Perhaps you’re not contending with false teachers or dealing with a frustrating alarm company, but you’re likely going through something.

Maybe you’ve sought out some help and you’ve been helped to some degree or another or maybe you haven’t.

In any case, know this: If you are in Christ Jesus, more help is on the way.

[ILLUS] The Christian music artist, Toby Mac, released a new album not to long ago. The songs on the album were written in response to the accidental overdose of his 21 year old son. One song he wrote in his grief was, “Help Is On The Way.” A few of the lyrics say…

“I heard your heart I see your pain Out in the dark Out in the rain Feel so alone Feel so afraid I heard you pray in Jesus' name

“It may be midnight or midday It's never early, never late He gon' stand by what He claim I've lived enough life to say

“Help is on the way.”

Whatever your going through, help is on the way.

Maybe help will come in paper and ink through a letter from a brother or sister in Christ.

Maybe it’ll come in paper and ink in the pages of Scripture.

Maybe it’ll come face-to-face.

It’ll definitely come when Christ comes.

More help is on the way.

He has said to you in Isaiah, “I will not forget you; Behold, I have written you on the palm of my hands.”

[TS] …

Message #2: “Your joy can be full” (v. 12b)

2 John 12 NASB95

12 Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.

[EXP] Joy is that happiness that circumstances can’t touch.

The circumstances in the church to which John writes included being attacked by false teachers who denied Jesus as coming in the flesh.

This heresy led these false teachers to immorality and hatred.

But the joy of John’s readers was not be rooted in present circumstances, but in eternal grace, mercy, and peace in Jesus Christ. This is why before the main message of his letter, John writes in 2 John 3…

2 John 3 NASB95

3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

If John’s readers had felt they couldn’t be happy unless their present circumstances were happy circumstances, they would’ve been in real trouble because Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble…”

In other words, our present circumstances in this world won’t always be happy or joyful, but our joy can always be full because Jesus has overcome the world and in him grace, mercy, and peace will be with us.

When our changing circumstances are troubled, we can take heart—we can have joy—we can even be happy because our joy is rooted in he who never changes—Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.

[ILLUS] In his book, The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis set out to show his fellow Christians how the powers of darkness scheme up ways to tempt them.

In the book, one elder demon, Uncle Screwtape, gives advice to an up and coming demon, his nephew, Wormwood.

I read the book a long time ago, and I can’t remember all the ways that Uncle Screwtape counsels Wormwood to tempt Christians, but there are certainly a few ways that Uncle Screwtape would add to his list if they are not already included.

One, Uncle Screwtape would tell Wormwood to convince Christians that they should never experience any unhappiness.

Two, Uncle Screwtape would tell Wormwood to convince Christians that they can’t be happy unless everything is happy in their life.

These two temptations would be a sure fire to keep people Christians miserable and ineffective in their witness for Christ.

[APP] Jesus didn’t save us to make us miserable. He saved us so that we might have fullness of joy.

We are so nearsighted that we think the only way we he can do that is by making everything in our life delightful.

But he often calls us to trust him, to delight in him, especially when our circumstances are no delightful.

Jesus wants you to be happy!

Jesus wants you to be joyful!

But Jesus knows that for your happiness and joy to be full, it must be rooted in him!

That’s why he comes in the flesh.

That’s why he tabernacled among us face-to-face.

That’s why died to save us and rose to bring us to God.

[TS] …

Message #3: “You’re not alone” (v. 13)

2 John 13 NASB95

13 The children of your chosen sister greet you.

[EXP] “Chosen sister” likely refers to the church in the city from which John writes. Many think that church was Ephesus.

“Children” refers to the believers in that church.

The greeting was a normal greeting, but it was also a reminder to John’s readers that they were not alone.

This greeting came from those who had faith in Christ just like John’s readers.

This greeting came from those who endured difficulty as the followed Christ just as John’s readers did.

This greeting came from those who confronted false teaching just as John’s readers did.

John’s readers were not alone.

That’s not easy to remember when something gets us down.

[ILLUS] When Cheryl was little, she had song called, “Nobody likes me.” It went something like this...

“Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, everyone’s always picking around...”

She would sing that song when she got upset with her brothers, and if you met them, you’d understand why!

But Cheryl was never alone. Recently, she was talking with her brother, Aaron, and he said that when Cheryl got upset and felt like nobody liked her, she’d call her grandmother.

Her grandmother talked to her, made her feel better, and reminder that she wasn’t alone—someone really did like her.

[APP] This is why it’s so important for us to gather together in the church. We need to be reminded that we’re not alone. We need to be reminded that someone likes us—to be reminded we have the support of our brothers and sisters.

I hope you see how important it is for you to show up here every time you’re able for that face-to-face encouragement.

You need it.

Others need it for you.

Your troubled circumstances would have you believe you’re alone, but you’re not alone.

[TS] …

Conclusion

[PRAYER]