Sermon #64 Through The Bible Series
Title: 3 John
Gaius,
Diotrephes, and Demetrius
Text: 3 John 1-14
Date: Tuesday Evening —August 24, 2003
Tape
# Y-39b
Readings: Rex Bartley and Larry Brown
Introduction:
(3
John) “The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. (2) Beloved,
I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy
soul prospereth. (3) For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and
testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
(4) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
(5) Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren,
and to strangers; (6) Which have borne witness of thy charity before the
church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou
shalt do well: (7) Because that for his name's sake they went forth,
taking nothing of the Gentiles. (8) We therefore ought to receive such,
that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. (9) I wrote unto the
church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them,
receiveth us not. (10) Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds
which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content
therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them
that would, and casteth them out of the church. (11) Beloved,
follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of
God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. (12) Demetrius hath good
report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear
record; and ye know that our record is true. (13) I had many things to
write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: (14) But I trust
I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to
thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.”
Here is a letter written by the apostle John
to his beloved son in the faith, Gaius. Gaius was not a pastor, preacher, or elder.
He was a man whom God had saved, a believer, a member of a local church, which
had been visited by some missionaries. These missionaries were traveling about,
preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. In their journeys they stopped at the
town where Gaius lived, to visit the brethren there. So Gaius took them into
his house, fed them, entertained them and lodged them for several days, perhaps
for several weeks, and when they left he gave them some traveling money to help
with their expenses.
When they got back to the church of which
John was the pastor, these traveling evangelists, these missionaries, could not
stop talking about Gaius. They told John about him. They told their friends
about him. They told the whole church about Gaius. When John heard these men
talking about his spiritual son, his heart bubbled up with joy and gratitude.
He wrote this letter, by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, to commend
Gaius. And he does commend him! He tells us that Gaius loved the gospel (vv.
3-4), that he was faithful in all things (v. 5), and that he was generous,
charitable and hospitable to his brethren, even to those who were total
strangers (vv. 5-6). Like Abraham, Gaius entertained strangers who came to him
in the name of Christ, and in so doing, he entertained angels unawares (Gen.
18:3; Heb. 13:2).
2nd
John was written to the elect lady, whom John loved in the truth. This epistle
is addressed to a man named “Gaius, whom,” John also says, “I love in
the truth.” Truth and love are companions, twin graces that can never be
separated. This epistle commends truth and love displayed in Gaius’ deeds. It
is written, “faith worketh by love” (Gal. 5:6).
In
this epistle we have a clear contrast of three men, Gaius, a very gracious man,
to whom the epistle is addressed, and Diotrephes who was a proud deceiver, and
Demetrius who was a man of good report. God
the Holy Spirit directed the John’s heart and pen to write this brief epistle
for our learning and admonition. He has preserved it for us in the Sacred
Volume.
Gaius
(v. 1)
“The elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.”
We see
the name “Gaius” four other times in the New Testament (Acts 19:29;
20:4; Rom. 16:23; 1 Cor. 1:14). Each time it refers to different men. This
man’s name was as common in the Roman Empire as the name John Smith is today.
The Gaius to whom this epistle is addressed was a beloved brother who was
converted under John’s ministry, one of his children in the faith and dearly
beloved (v. 4). Not only did John love him, he was a man “well-beloved”
— beloved of God and chosen unto eternal salvation in Christ (Jer. 31:3; Eph.
1:3-6; 2 Thess 2:13) and beloved of his brethren.
Gaius
was beloved of those saints who knew him because he was a man of great faith,
integrity, and generosity. He had experienced the grace of God; and that made
him gracious. He was sound in doctrine and sound in heart. Gaius was a loving
and lovable man.
Prosperity
(v. 2)
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth.”
The
word “above” would be better translated “in.” That is obvious in the
context in which the word is used. John would not desire prosperity in temporal
things above Gaius’ prosperity in spiritual and eternal things. Yet, his love
for Gaius and his desires for him included temporal things. What he is saying
here is — “I wish that you may have a prosperous journey through this world and
be in good health, even as your soul prospers. I pray that the Lord will grant
his continual, manifest blessings upon you.” The Amplified Bible interprets
verse 2 this way. — “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and
[that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.”
Physical
health is a great blessing and is altogether the gift of God’s providential
goodness. Among the countless promises of God to his people, there are many
that relate to temporal things (Deut. 28:1-14).
(Deuteronomy
28:1-14) "And it shall come to
pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to
observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day,
that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
(2) And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou
shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. (3) Blessed shalt thou
be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
(4) Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy
ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks
of thy sheep. (5) Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
(6) Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt
thou be when thou goest out. (7) The LORD shall cause thine
enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come
out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. (8) The LORD
shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou
settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy
God giveth thee. (9) The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto
himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the
LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. (10) And all people of the earth
shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be
afraid of thee. (11) And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in
the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy
ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. (12)
The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the
rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and
thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. (13) And
the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above
only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments
of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
(14) And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee
this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other
gods to serve them."
The
Scriptures teach us that with regard to all who are called of God by the
effectual, irresistible grace and power of God the Holy Spirit to life and
faith in Christ, everything for time and eternity prospers and is the blessing
of God upon us (Rom. 8:28). He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him
up for us all, will with him freely give us all things (Rom. 8:32).
Temporal Things
God’s
saints in this world are give liberty to use all things temporal as we live to
serve and honor God our Savior. It is written, “all things are yours…and ye
are Christ’s” (1 Cor. 3:21-23). If the Lord causes us to abound in earthly
goods and/or in good health, he accompanies those blessings with grace
sufficient to make them prosperous to our souls. When that is the case, let us,
like Gaius, use such blessings of providence “faithfully in whatsoever”
we do (v. 5) both in connection with our brethren in the church and kingdom of
God and in connection with the world, doing good to all men, and especially to
them who are of the household of faith.
If
the Lord sends adversity he takes out all the bitterness of it, still his grace
is sufficient. He assures us that this, too, is his blessing, the very best
thing for us. So that, though the fig-tree does not blossom and fruit is not
found in the vine, though the labor of the olive fail and the fields yield no
meat, though the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herds in the
stall, yet, the child of God can, and will say, I will rejoice in the Lord, I
will joy in the God of my salvation (Hab. 3:17, 18).
Spiritual Things
As
in temporal things, so too in spiritual things, the child of God is always
blessed and prospers. It is written,
"Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According
as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before him: In love having predestinated us
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good
pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein
he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1:3-6)
We are blessed, in time and to all eternity,
with the Father’s love, the Savior’s redemption, and the Holy Spirit’s grace.
All the blessings of grace so boundlessly bestowed upon us from eternity in
Christ are gifts of God which shall not be taken away, neither in this world
nor in the world to come (Rom. 11:29). Our God has given us peace and pardon,
through the blood of the cross. He gives us continual manifestations of his
boundless love. The Lord Jesus comes to bless, comfort, and encourage us, and
to make himself known to us in ways with which he does not deal with the world
(John 14:18-23).
(John
14:18-23) "I will not leave you
comfortless: I will come to you. (19) Yet a little while, and the world
seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (20) At
that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in
you. (21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that
loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love
him, and will manifest myself to him. (22) Judas saith unto him, not
Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto
the world? (23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he
will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and
make our abode with him."
“Who shall describe the out-pourings of divine love, or the incomings of divine grace, the child of God is continually receiving from the Lord, who is blessing him with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus?”
(Robert Hawker)
Eternal Things
Regarding
eternal blessings, our God has not only given us the promise of the life that
now is, but of that which is to come. Indeed, eternal life is ours now. It is
already begun in our souls. “He that hath the Son of God hath life.” He
enjoys it now by faith. — “For faith is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb.
11:1). And faith in Christ is the earnest given by the Spirit of glory to come.
Gaius’ Testimony
(v. 3)
“For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that
is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.”
Some
brethren came to John from the place where Gaius lived and told him that Gaius
was a man who believed the truth of the gospel and that he was a man of a truly
gracious spirit. He walked before God and men in such a way that he was known
by God’s saints as one who lived for the glory of God. His life was a life that
adorned the doctrine of God our Savior in all things (Tit. 2:10). The report of
these men concerning Gaius filled the old pastor with joy (v. 4).
(v. 4)
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
Nothing makes a faithful gospel preacher happier than to hear that those to whom
he has preached the gospel, and for whom he has been the means God used to
bring them to the knowledge of Christ, believe and walk in the truth. We can
bestow no greater gift upon our friends, and no greater inheritance upon our
families, than the gospel of Christ. And they can bring no greater joy and
satisfaction to our hearts than to receive the truth and walk therein (Acts
3:2-6; Phile. 20-21).
(Acts
3:2-6) "And a certain man lame from
his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple
which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
(3) Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
(4) And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
(5) And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
(6) Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I
thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
(Philemon
1:20-21) "Yea, brother, let me have
joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. (21) Having
confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do
more than I say."
Proper Honor
(v. 5)
“Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to
strangers.”
The Holy Spirit teaches us to give honor to whom honor is due (Rev. 13:7). We are not to flatter men, but it is altogether proper to honor and commend one another.
Illustration: My
Comment to Doug
Here
John commends Gaius for his hospitality and charity to God’s saints and to
strangers who crossed his path. He was a kind and generous man, who cared for
and ministered to the needs of others. Both his heart and his home were open to
men. He used that which God had given him for the benefit of others. Thus, he both
blessed the lives of many and was blessed of God in his own life (Heb. 13:1-2).
(Hebrews
13:1-2) "Let brotherly love
continue. (2) Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some
have entertained angels unawares."
Gaius
did “faithfully” that which he did. He did not do things in a
hypocritical and pretentious way, to be seen of men and gain their applause.
But he did what he did because he loved Christ and his people (Matt. 6:1-4).
(Matthew
6:1-4) "Take heed that ye do not
your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your
Father which is in heaven. (2) Therefore when thou doest thine alms,
do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and
in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They
have their reward. (3) But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand
know what thy right hand doeth: (4) That thine alms may be in secret:
and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
(v. 6)
“Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring
forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well.”
This 6th
verse makes it clear that the “strangers” referred to in verse 5 were traveling
preachers, evangelists (missionaries), who were strangers to Gaius before they
came to his town. They testified before the church at Ephesus of his love,
friendship and care of them. They were greatly moved by his spirit of grace and
love and gave thanks to God for the grace of God in him.
Supporting Missionaries
Notice
what John tells us here about the support of gospel preachers, particularly
about the support of missionaries. — “Whom if thou bring forward on their
journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well.” In 2nd John, he
warned us not to support those false teachers and preachers who come preaching
“another gospel” (2 John 10-11). Here he tells us that we do well to aid
God's children and to help make their journey through this world to be more
pleasant — especially those who are traveling missionaries (Matt. 10:42; 2
Kings 4:8-10).
(Matthew
10:42) "And whosoever shall give to
drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name
of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."
(2 Kings 4:8-10) "And it fell on a day, that Elisha
passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to
eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned
in thither to eat bread. (9) And she said unto her husband, Behold now,
I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us
continually. (10) Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the
wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a
candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in
thither."
In verses 7 and 8 he tells us why we do well in supporting those brethren
who go forth in the name of Christ preaching the gospel.
(vv.
7-8) “Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the
Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be
fellowhelpers to the truth.”
These
men have gone out from home and family for Christ's sake. They are not
supported by the heathen to whom they preach, taking nothing from them, lest
the gospel be reproached. Freely we have received and freely we give. We ought
to support and provide for such men. In doing so we are fellow-laborers and
fellow-helpers to the truth. It is a great privilege to preach the gospel and
an equal privilege and blessing to provide for those who preach it, for in
doing so we also serve the cause of the gospel.
The only proper reason for the existence of
any local church in this world is the furtherance of the gospel. The church exists on earth
only for the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The church of
God is a sounding board for the gospel. It is our responsibility to use every
means at our disposal to proclaim the gospel of Christ as fully and universally
as we possibly can to the generation in which we live. We have no other
commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8). One
of the most effective means we have of preaching the gospel, in any age, is
gospel missions, sending out missionaries to preach the good news of redemption
and grace in Christ around the world.
When I first moved to Danville, Kentucky, and
assumed the pastoral responsibilities of Grace Baptist Church, before we had a
house of worship, before we began any other work, before the church was able to
support the pastor as they desired, I asked the men and women of Grace Church
to make a commitment to the support of gospel missionaries. We had no visible
means of doing so. But I was convinced then, as I am now, that where
there is a will to give God will supply the ability to give. As in all
other things, our people rallied to their pastor's request. (Some of those
saints make great personal sacrifices to support their pastor, those faithful
men who preach the gospel in foreign countries and needy pastors and churches
in our own country. I cannot sufficiently express my thanks to God for them, or
commend them too highly.) Today it is our privilege to assist in the regular
support of six faithful missionaries and their families, and we have never
lacked anything needed for the work at home.
God honors those who honor him, and our congregation has
been blessed of God, greatly blessed, since the day we began supporting these
missionaries. We have lost nothing, but gained much, as our Lord promised (Luke
6:38).
(Luke
6:38) "Give, and it shall be given
unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,
shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal
it shall be measured to you again."
In the future I intend to call upon myself and our church family to make greater sacrifices, to give more and do more for the cause of Christ, so that any man whom God raises up to preach the gospel of Christ anywhere in the world will not lack material support for his family. Why? Why do I ask for such commitment? Why do I call upon God's people to give to missions? Why should we support missionaries? Let me give you some plain, biblical answers to that question.
What is a missionary?
First let me clearly define what a missionary is.
The word “missionary” is not used in the Bible, but that should not disturb us.
Neither is the word “Trinity”. We practice missions, as we believe the doctrine
of the Trinity, because the concept is clearly taught in Holy Scripture. The
biblical word for missionary is “evangelist.” Paul and Barnabas
were missionaries sent out from the church at Antioch to preach the gospel to
the Gentiles (Acts 13:1-3). Philip the evangelist was a
missionary (Acts 21:8). All pastors are to do the work of an
evangelist, or missionary (2 Tim. 4:5). But God has given some to his
church who are specifically called to be missionaries or evangelists
(Eph. 4:11).
A missionary is a
man. — No woman can serve as an evangelist, for an
evangelist is a preacher and God does not call women to preach the gospel (1
Cor. 14:35; 1 Tim. 2:11-12). The wife of a missionary, that is, of an
evangelist, is not herself a missionary in the true sense of the word, however
much she may be an excellent wife to her husband, any more than the fact of being
the wife of the President makes the First Lady herself the President of the
United States.
A missionary is a
man with God's message. — First and foremost, like
every other man called to the work of the gospel, the missionary is a preacher.
If a man is not gifted to preach, he cannot serve as a missionary.
And the message he preaches is, and must be, the gospel of God's free and
sovereign grace in Christ. The missionary is a proclaimer of good
news; and the good news he proclaims is the redemption Christ
accomplished for sinners.
A missionary is a
man with God's mission. — Missionaries are men
called and gifted of God to establish churches, train pastors and help
establish those pastors and churches in the gospel of the grace of God, so that
they might carry on the work of the gospel for the years to come.
Medical missionaries, educational missionaries and cultural missionaries are
not true missionaries and should not be supported by local churches.
Missionaries are men who have a mission from God, and their mission is to
preach the gospel of Christ.
With these things in mind, I want us to examine what
the Spirit of God teaches in these verses of 3rd John about the
church's responsibility to missionaries. After highly commending this
man, Gaius, for all that he had done, John urged him to do even more. Realizing
that God's servants are to be supported entirely by the generous, free,
voluntary gifts of his people, John gave Gaius, and us, four
reasons why we should support missionaries.
1.
It is pleasing to God for us
to do so.
John told Gaius that when God's servants come to our
town, we are not only to care for them while they are with us, but we are to “bring
(them) forward on their journey after a godly sort” (v. 6).
It is the
responsibility of local churches to provide all those things which God's
servants need to carry on their work. Missionaries have all the earthly needs that
the rest of us have and many that we do not have. They must have homes, food
and clothing for their families. They must provide health care for their
households. They have to educate their children, and they have to have some
means of transport, just like we do. In addition to these things, every expense
for the work on the field comes out of the missionary's pocket! Whatever
it takes to keep faithful men free of earthly care, so that they may give
themselves whole-heartedly to the work of the ministry, we must do!
John tells us that this is a “godly sort”
of work. The marginal translation of these words is: this is a
work “worthy of God”. It is a work becoming to those who serve God. If
we do this, if we support God's servants in the work of the gospel, we do well.
This is a work pleasing to God. God delights to see those who
love Christ showing their love by generosity towards his servants (2 Cor. 9:7).
2.
We should give “for his
name's sake.”
“For his name's sake they went forth” (v.7). — And “for his
name's sake” we must supply their needs. There is only one thing that
compels the true servant of God to take his wife and children to a remote, far
distant country, to preach the gospel, leaving behind the comforts of his
homeland, the company of his friends and the warmth of his family: he is
motivated by a burning jealousy for the name of Christ (Rom. 1:5, 16-17).
That same burning jealousy for Christ's name
inspires God's saints to give of their means to supply those men with the
support they need. Every believer wants all men and women to hear the
gospel of Christ, so that our great Savior may be known, trusted, worshipped
and glorified throughout the world. The best means we have of
accomplishing that great goal is giving of our means to support faithful
gospel-preaching missionaries.
Our Lord is so highly honored by the service of
those whom he sends out to preach the gospel that he counts anything we do for
them as having been done for him (Matt. 10:40-42), and indeed it is. God's
servants are his ambassadors. Those men who faithfully preach the gospel of
God's free and sovereign grace in Christ (the gospel of his electing love,
accomplished redemption, effectual grace and saving fulness) are God's
representatives and spokesmen in this world (2 Cor. 5:18-21). Anything we
do to one of God's ambassadors we do to him. Anything done for
God's ambassador is done for him; and anything done against God's
ambassador is done against him.
3.
Faithful men have no other
means of support.
“Because that for his name's sake they went forth,
taking nothing of the Gentiles” (v. 7). — These men preached to the Gentiles
freely, refusing to seek, or even take financial support from unbelievers.
There are three things I want to say about
preachers and money. I know what the people of this world think, and I know that the
preachers of this world have a terrible reputation regarding money. Preachers,
as a whole, are the poorest credit risks in our society. They have a terrible
reputation for living beyond their means and not paying their bills. That is
horribly shameful! But we must never make the mistake of stereotyping God's
servants with the characteristics of religious hirelings. God's servants are
worthy of our generous support. Because they are faithful to Christ, the gospel
of his grace and the souls of men, they have no means of support other than the
generosity of God's people. There are three things we need to know about God's
servants.
First, God's
servants do not preach for earthly gain. These men described by John “went forth, taking nothing of the
Gentiles.” They did not go out seeking men's goods. They went forth seeking
men's souls. It is never hard to tell whether a preacher is seeking your goods,
or the good of your soul. If he spends the bulk of his time talking about your
goods (health, wealth and prosperity), you can be sure the rogue is after your
money! If he spends his time and energy speaking to you about Christ and your
soul, it is because he is seeking the good of your soul.
Paul condemned those pretentious, self-motivated,
covetous, greedy false prophets who make merchandise of men's souls and
prostitute the gospel for gain (2 Cor. 2:17; 1 Thess. 2:5-9). God's
servants do not seek personal gain. They will not enrich
themselves by the gospel. It would be impossible to make a faithful
pastor or missionary rich. If he is faithful, that which he does not need he
will give to someone who does. He has no desire to hoard up money, lands or
jewels. Can you imagine a rich prophet or apostle? Ridiculous!
Second, our Lord expressly forbids his servants to
solicit support, especially from unbelievers. When he sent his disciples out to preach, he said, “Go not
from house to house” (Luke 10:7). That means, “Do not go begging,
soliciting help, or in any way implying that the cause of Christ, his church,
his gospel, or his servants depend upon the aid and support of men.
If I am God's servant, material, monetary,
earthly considerations have nothing to do with what, where, when, or how I
preach.
In over thirty-five years of preaching, I have never asked anyone for a penny,
nor even allowed the consideration of cost or expense to enter into any
decision regarding the work of the ministry. I am God's servant, and God meets
my needs. This church is God's church, and God supplies our needs. We
will not dishonor our heavenly Father by begging and groveling before men for a
little money. I speak from personal experience, but what I have said is
true of all who truly serve our God. Any man who begs for money in the name of
Christ, promising rewards from God if people give him their money, or implying
that God's work might fail if they do not, is a liar and a false prophet.
Third, the
Lord Jesus also forbids his servants to make provision for themselves (Matt. 10:9-10; Luke
10:4-7). He commands that all who preach the gospel are to live by the gospel
(1 Cor. 9:14).
(Matthew
10:9-10) "Provide neither gold, nor
silver, nor brass in your purses, (10) Nor scrip for your journey,
neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of
his meat."
(Luke
10:4-7) "Carry neither purse, nor
scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. (5) And into whatsoever
house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. (6) And if the
son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to
you again. (7) And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things
as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to
house."
God's servants should not have to provide for
themselves, and it is wrong for local churches to make it necessary for them to
do so by being, selfish, niggardly misers. No servant of God, no man who
truly ministers to the souls of men, should be required to provide even a piece
of bread for himself or his family. It is the responsibility of local
churches to take care of those who preach the gospel and to see that those who
preach the gospel live by the gospel. The less earthly care a pastor or
missionary has, the freer he is to give himself to the work of the ministry
(prayer, study, preaching, writing, etc.); and the more he gives himself to
these things, the more useful he is in the cause of Christ.
Not only is this the responsibility of local
churches, it is what God's churches in fact do. God's saints are not misers! If
God is in any work, anywhere in the world, God will supply the needs of that
work through the free, voluntary, generous gifts of his people.
Anything that has to be primed, pumped, pushed, pulled and promoted by men is
not of God.
4.
By our loving, free generous
support of God's faithful servants, we become “fellow-helpers to the truth” (v. 8).
When we supply a man's needs, so that he can preach
the gospel of Christ freely to others, we become allies with him in the work of
preaching the gospel. What a privilege! The work of the ministry is God's work,
but God does his work through the labors of faithful men, through the preaching
of the gospel. And these men do their work by the generosity of faithful men
and women, who work hard and freely give of their means, so that the gospel may
be preached freely around the world.
God's church is one, and we are one with
those missionaries we are privileged to support. Their cause is our cause;
their work is our work, and their reward is our reward.
The next time we have the opportunity to show
hospitality to, entertain, give to, or do anything for, one of God's servants,
let us remember these things:
·
This is a work that is pleasing to God.
·
This is a work that is done by faith in and for the honor of Christ's
name.
·
This is a work done for worthy men, men who have forsaken all to preach
the gospel. They are worthy to live by the gospel.
·
By these things we are “fellow-helpers to the truth.”
Let each one of us do whatever God gives us the
opportunity and the ability to do for Christ, his servants and the furtherance
of the gospel, and let us pray that God will continue to raise up men to preach
the gospel of his free grace in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of his
elect and the glory of his own great name. — “The harvest truly is great,
but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he
would send forth laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2).
Diotrephes
(v. 9)
“I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence
among them, receiveth us not.”
John
wrote a letter to the church of which Gaius was a member. It was a letter of
instruction, counsel and apostolic orders. But Diotrephes, who was evidently an
officer in the church (perhaps the pastor), refused to accept his instruction
and counsel, because he loved to have preeminence. He wanted people to honor
and follow him. He craved recognition. Pastor Henry Mahan wrote, “Everything in
a church ought to be done by pastor and people in love, meekness and with
mutual consent, with each seeking the glory of Christ and the good of all
(Phil. 2:3-8; Rom. 12:3, 10:1; 1 Cor. 4:6,7).” Diotrephes did what he did for
the glory of Diotrephes! He was one of those wolves in sheep’s clothing Paul
told the church at Ephesus would arise from their midst “speaking perverse
things to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:30).
(v.
10) “Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating
against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he
himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them
out of the church.”
John
was determined, when he next visited the church, to expose this wicked man to
the church and reprove him for his deeds (Gal. 2:11). He describes Diotrephes
as one who spoke prating (empty) things against him and other faithful servants
of God. How common Diotrephes’ behavior is to this day among self-serving
preachers! True servants of God, true preachers of the gospel are prated
against not only by men of the world, but also by professors of religion. That
which is spoken against them is just “prating,” silly, idle and empty
slanders. Such slanders take up any little matter and rail against faithful men
in order to hurt their character, spoil their usefulness and render their
labors ineffective. But all their railing and prating is only to exalt
themselves in the eyes of the people (1 Tim. 5:19; 2 Cor. 10:10).
Diotrephes
was not satisfied with speaking against the John and his ministry. He refused
to receive the preachers and missionaries sent by John. He threatened to cast
those who received them out of the church.
(v.
11) “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that
doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”
The
apostle here tells Gaius and us not to follow Diotrephes’ wickedness. Such as
pride, ambition, love of preeminence and self-exaltation is to be rebuked and
those who engage in it are to be rejected as evil men (Titus 3:1,2; Jams 4:11;
Eph. 4:31,32). He who manifests the grace and spirit of Christ in attitude and
action is of God, and he who does not has evidently not experienced the grace
of God and does not know God at all (1 John 4:6-8, 20-21).
Demetrius
(v.
12) “Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself:
yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.”
Demetrius
was a man whose character, like Gaius’, was exactly opposite to that of
Diotrephes. His was an example to be followed. Demetrius was kind, considerate
and gracious. He had a good reputation and report. He was loved and respected
by all who knew him.
It is sad, but terribly common, that trouble makers and those of a critical spirit find many followers. Let those who are wise mark the man of a Christ-like attitude and a loving spirit and follow his example. John bore record to the character of Demetrius, and we know that his word is true and dependable.”
Diotrephes
and Demetrius are known to us only by name. Robert Hawker wrote of them, “How
different their characters were! How opposed while they lived! How differently
regarded when they died. How opposite in the esteem of the Church, through all
ages! And how everlastingly opposite, if dying as they are here said to have
lived, through all the eternal world? Reader! How blessed to have a good report
of all men; yea, and of the truth itself, which is Christ (John 14:6). Oh! For
the whisper of Jesus, in a dying hour, to confirm his grace in the soul, as
manifested in a living hour; that both in life and in death the soul be found
in him (Isa. 43:1-4).”
(vv.
13-14) “I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto
thee: But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to
face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the
friends by name.”
Reflections
I cannot conclude this study of 3rd John in
a more edifying way than by giving you Robert Hawker’s reflections upon these
fourteen verses of Inspiration.
“What a beautiful view is here afforded, of the beloved Apostle in his pastoral office, addressing the faithful Gaius, beloved in the Lord. To behold the venerable saint of God, amidst all the infirmities of declining years, thus blessing God, and blessing the servant of God, in his wishes both for spiritual and temporal prosperity.
But while we look at John, who justly commands our
veneration and our love, let us look infinitely above John, and behold John’s
Lord still blessing all his church; and every Gaius of his redeemed family
below, with blessings in himself.
Precious, precious Jesus! We desire to praise thee for
all that is lovely, in the disciple whom Jesus loved; for all that is lovely in
John, was, and is derived from thee! Lord! Hasten on thy blessed purposes, and
bring on thy glorious day when thou wilt come to be glorified in thy saints,
and to be admired in all that believe! To thee, Lord, it belongs, to keep thy
Church from falling, and to present it faultless before the presence of thy
glory with exceeding joy. In the blessed hope of thy appearing, may all thy
Church in thee, and through thee, daily ascribe to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Israel’s God in covenant, endless praises. Amen.