Category: General

The fire alarm called out the professional firefighters when an apartment house in New York began to bum … and John Herko was there too. People were trapped in the building, and Herko went in. He found Douglas Billman, a four year old, and fought his way through smoke and flame to carry the boy to safety. The fireman finished the job, but no one was happier than John Herko, who hugged the little fellow and could scarcely let him go.

Why was Douglas so precious to him? He had never seen the boy before. But in bringing him safely from the fire, John had discharged a debt he had carried for thirteen years. Thirteen years ago his son had fallen into the water, and was drowning; a woman who was near jumped in and rescued him from probable death. Now Herko says, “Ever since then I felt that I owed some child a life.”

Not everyone feels such a sense of obligation. Some accept deliverance as a matter of course; and if they should do a big favour for someone else, they take much credit to themselves. This is especially true in spiritual matters. Heow many Christians feel an obligation to witness for the Lord, and seek to introduce others to the Lord Jesus?

Paul said, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise” (Romans 1:14). What made Paul a debtor to all the people? I twas, first of all, the fact of his own salvation. Christ had sought him out on the road to Damascus; but the salvation which Paul experienced there was for all men, not just for him and a chosen few. People in every nation had a right to know about it. Second, it was because the Lord saved Paul for that purpose (Acts 26: 14-18). Third, the love of Christ drove Paul on to tell others everywhere about the Saviour (2 Corinthians 5: 14-20).

Did Paul’s experience differ from yours? In detail, no doubt it did; but we are all debtors in the same sense that Paul was. We are “Saved, saved to tell others of the Man of Galilee.”

Someone came to tell you of Calvary and the way of life. Someone made an effort to introduce you to the Saviour. Don’t you feel a sense of obligation because of that? If all Christians felt like John Herko, if we were all willing to brave danger and go to real trouble to help another soul because we and our friends were helped, thing what an impetus it would bring into the work of the churches! Take the burden of debt upon you; watch for the chance to pass on the blessing you have received. God will guide you to some soul and teach you what to say to win that soul.

If I can win some precious soul to Christ, And know that when I leave, he’ll carry on, And maybe win some other to his Lord To carry high the torch when he is gone; some shall stop me in the Glory/and, And say, “I’m here because one day you came To tell me of the Saviours matchless love, ” Then I can know I have not lived in vain.

Jesus said, “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” (Matthew 6:27). Worry cannot produce a better tomorrow or change yesterday, but it can spoil a perfectly good today.

It is impossible to list a single benefit from worry. Someone said, “Worry is like rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.”

Someone gave this estimate of what most people worry about: Things that never happen, 49%; things over the past that can’t be changed by all the worry in the world, 30%; needless health worries, 12%; petty, miscellaneous worries, 10%; real, legitimate worries, 8%.

We doubt if there is any such thing as a “real, legitimate worry,” since the Bible says in Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing … ” The literal meaning is “don’t worry about even one thing.”

WORRY IS UNWISE

There are three reasons why worry is unwise: 1. It is harmful to one physically, mentally, and emotionally; 2. It makes one a poor steward of his time and energy; 3. It shows a lack of faith in our Heavenly Father’s care for us and in the integrity of His promises.

Dr. W. C. Alvarez, a stomach specialist at Mayo Clinic, said, “Eighty percent of the stomach disorders that come to the clinic are not organic but functional … most of all ills are caused by worry and fear, and it is my experience that faith is more important than food in the cure of stomach ulcers.”

The renowned Dr. Charles Mayo himself said, “Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system; and it profoundly affects the health.”

Another medical doctor said, “Worry sets up a general disorganization of the system, makes and liberates all sorts of bodily poisons, throws glands and their functions all out of gear, and lowers the resistance to the very edge of limpness … prolonged and great worry may mean an eventual breakup, flabby heart, hardened arteries, premature senility, paralysis of the will which may ultimately lead to suicide.”

Worry wastes energy. A large industrial firm discovered that nine out of ten cases of workers inefficiency were caused by worry.

Worry produces imaginary troubles and often gives a small thing a big shadow. Someone once said, “To worry about what we can’t help is useless; to worry about what we can help is stupid.”

WORRY IS UNNECESSARY

Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-26, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”

Later in the same chapter, the Lord promised us food and clothing, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (verse 33). Since the Father ” … knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (verse 32), and since He has promised that ” … these things shall be added unto you” (verse 33), then worry is unnecessary.

“The tongue spills out what the life contains.”

“May I see your tongue?” That’s what the doctor asks us when we visit his office for consultation. It is a well-known fact that the tongue serves as an index to our physical condition. Likewise, the tongue is a good index to our spiritual condition. Jesus Himself said at one time, ” … out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). Our words definitely reveal our character, although many of us seem to be unaware of that fact.

If you were walking from the well carrying a bucket of water and someone jostled against you, there could be spilled from the bucket only that which it contained. As you walk along the way of life, you are constantly being jostled by people. If your life is full of ill nature, bad temper, and ugly disposition, those things will be spilled from it. If it is full of Christian spirit, you will spill a smile or some pleasant remark as people bump into you. You can spill from your bucket only that which it contains.

THE TONGUE DEFINED

In the Bible, the tongue is called ” … an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). It is spoken of as false, lying, froward, naughty, perverse, backbiting, and deceitful. There are six things which God hates; seven are an abomination to Him. Of these seven, three peak of the tongue: ” … a lying tongue … ” (Proverbs 6: 17); “A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6: 19).

THE POWER OF THE TONGUE

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, made this statement, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue … ” (Proverbs 18:21). How true! Think of the jurist who must use his tongue to pronounce either the death sentence upon a man or to declare his innocence. But spiritual death and spiritual life are also in the power of the tongue.

Spiritual death has been defined as “anything which separates one from God.” What power the tongue has here! How many people have listened to the words of atheists, agnostics, infidels, Christ haters and rejecters, and have gone down to spiritual death – eternal separation from God!

The tongue also has the power to bring spiritual life to others. Millions have heard the words of eternal life from the lips of others and have believed them and received spiritual life, eternal life, as a result. Faith comes by the hearing of God’s Word. Jesus said, ” … He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life … ” (John 5:24). It has ” … pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21 ).

We have the glorious privilege and opportunity of using our tongues to proclaim God’s Word, thereby bringing spiritual life to others. What greater or more worthwhile use could we make of our tongues?

Good homes, good Churches and good communities are built upon godly relationships. The most common cause of failure in a relationship is a failure to live by and respond to God’s Word, which results in the fullness of the Spirit. When a believer is filled with the Spirit of God, he or she has the mind of God to go through relationship problems correctly.

You should read Ephesians 4:30 – 5:18. When we are filled with the Spirit (not the same as baptized with the Spirit) we manifest the fruit of the Spirit as outlined in Galatians 5:22-24. All interpersonal relationship problems stem from one or both parties walking in the flesh rather than walking in the Spirit. In other words, if you are not in tune with the Spirit of God, you will not be in tune with others. Look up and read Romans 12:1-2, 9-20; 13:8-14. There is something wrong with a person who continually has conflict with others and always has to make new friends because of relationship problems with others. Friend, you should have some lasting friendships, and you will if you are saved and Spirit filled. Here are a few simple thoughts on developing lasting, Godly relationships:

1. Control your thoughts. Acts 5:3 states about Ananias and Sapphira that “why hath Satan hath filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost…” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 tells us to cast dawn imaginations and bring our thoughts into captivity. When your thoughts are out of control, your life is out of control.

2.   Control your tongue. (James 1:26; 3:1-18) A loose tongue will destroy a godly relationship. In fact, it is Satan’s greatest weapon. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

3.   Control your temper. (Ephesians 4:30-32, 1 Peter 2:1-3) A loose temper is not excused by the Word of God. No Christian should brag on having a bad temper. That Is like saying, “I am not under the control of the Holy Spirit.” Also, it reveals that the person is walking in the flesh rather than the Spirit.

4.   Don’t lose sight of Satan’s plan. (2 Corinthians 2:9-11) v11 says, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” James 3:16 states, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

Please read 1 Peter 3:7-17 and start working today to make and maintain lasting Godly relationships. Satan wants to cripple your home, destroy your friendships and testimony thereby getting the advantage.

Bible Reading – Prov. 27:4; Acts 7:9.

Definition of “Envy” = Resentful, admiring contemplation of a more fortunate person’s advantage.

Memory Verse: “Let not thine heart envy sinners.” Proverbs 23:17.

Aim: To be aware of and to resist the sin of envy.

Question: Who in the Bible committed the sin of envy?

1. Pharisees: “He knew that for envy they had delivered him.” Matthew 27:18.

2. Patriarchs moved with envy sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him. Acts 7:9; Genesis 37:11.

3. Jews: When the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things . which were spoken by Paul. (Acts 17:3).

4. Philistines envied Abraham’s flocks, herds, servants. Genesis 26:14.

5. Rachel: When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister Leah. Gen. 30:1.

6. Wilderness generation envied Moses in the camp and Aaron the servant of God. Psalm 106:16.

7. One of Joshua’s servants envied Eldad and Medad prophesying in the camp. Numbers 1:28,29.

8. Saul envied David who had killed his ten thousands. I Samuel 18:7-12.

Conclusion:

i) Most envy is against the spiritual success of others.

ii) Envy leads people to hatred, violence and murder .

iii) Envy is a sin that religious unbelievers or carnal believers are most likely to fall into.

Question: What else do you notice about envy?

He came to:

1) Save sinners (I Timothy 1:15); Call sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32).

2) Minister to serve people and give His life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28).

3) Get baptised and thus show us how to be baptised. (Mark 1:9).

4) Preach the Gospel of Peace (Mark 1:38,39), & give us access to the Father (Eph 2:17, 14-18)

5) Heal the broken hearted (Luke 4:18).

6) Inspect and evaluate people’s condition: Israel’s (Matthew 21:9); Disciples (Matthew 26:43); Church. (Matthew 24:42,44).

7) Do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work. (John 4:34; 6:38).

8) Bless us and turn us away from our iniquities. (Acts 3:26).

9) Destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8)–all his wicked plans & control over men’s’ hearts.

10) Give eternal life, be the propitiation for our sins, be the Saviour of the world. (I John 4:9,10,14)

• Bible Reading:  Psalm 34:11; Jonah 1:9-10.
• Introduction:
  • When God describes unbelievers in Romans chapter 3, one thing He says of their life of sin is that “there is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:18.
    • Unbelievers don’t care about God or others, they mainly care about themselves.
    • They have not yet discovered that God judges their sins in this life and will judge their sins in the next life.
    • They don’t think that they’ll be cast into the lake of fire, nor do they appreciate the horrors of hell, nor the statement, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
    • Some questions we need to ask during the course of this study –
      • Question:      Do you truly fear God?
      • Question:      What does it mean to fear God?
      • Question:      What will we do if we fear God?
      • Question:      What benefits come to us by fearing God?
      • Question:      Who are some Bible characters that feared God?
• I.    Kinds of Fear
• Question:            What does it mean to fear God?
  • The Bible uses the word “Fear” in 7 ways:
• 1.   Holy Fear = Love and respect for the majesty and holiness of God.
  • In Genesis 20:11, Abraham said, “because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.”
  • Acts 9:31, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria, and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied.”
  • Psalm 34:11, “Come ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach the fear of the Lord.”
  • David speaks of this fear as clean and pure in Psalm 19:9.
  • Proverbs 1:7 & Psalm 111:10, “The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
  • The Fear of the Lord enables man to:
    • a) respect God’s authority (Revelation 14:9),
    • b) obey God’s commandments,
    • c) turn from evil (Jonah 1:9), and
    • d) pursue true holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 2:12).
  • The believer has this fear of God which is defined as ‘the proper reverence of a child of God for his Heavenly Father (2 Corinthians 6:17 – 7:1)
    • so that we obey God because we:
      • – love Him for who He is,
      • – obey Him because He is good and His plans are best for us, and
      • – respect Him because of His power to correct and discipline us.

•  2.  Fear of Unforgiven Sin.
  • Caused by the work of the law written on unbelievers hearts.
    • This is fear of the guilt of sin.
      • “which show the work of the law written on their hearts.” (Romans 2:15).
  • Examples include:
    • a) Adam’s fear of unforgiven sin when he sinned. (Genesis 3:10).
    • b) Felix’s fear of unforgiven sin as he heard Paul preach. (Acts 24:25).
    • c) Men who reject the preaching of the Gospel: “A certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:27-31).
• 3.   Fear of Judgment at Christ’s Second Coming.
  • The wicked will have a fear and terror of God’s judgment at Christ’s Second Coming.
    • See Rev. 11:11.
    • See Isaiah 2:19
  • God places a fear of His people in their enemies to protect Israel:
    • a)   When God smote one million soldiers who attacked Israel during King Asa’s reign (951BC), the fear of God came upon them. II Chronicles 14:14.
    • b)   When a large army from Ammon, Moab and Mt Seir (Jordan) invaded Israel during King Jehoshaphat’s reign (896BC), God smote the invaders, and “The fear of God wasin all the kingdoms of those countries when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.”(2 Chron 20:29)
    • c)   ‘The land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself.’ (Isaiah 9:17).
• 4.   Fear of Man.
  • Two kinds are:
    • a) Proper respect for those in authority.
      • i) Fear to whom fear is due. “He beareth not the sword in vain”. Romans 13:4,7.
      • ii) Servants (employees) be subject to your masters with all fear. 1 Peter 2:18.
    • b) Senseless dread of man.
      • Israel was told not to fear the Canaanites, but to go and conquer the land. Numbers 14:9.
• 5.   Cowardice and Timid ness.
  • “God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7.
  • “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.
  • “The fearful, and unbelieving..” Revelation 21:8.
    • This is people afraid of receiving Christ as Saviour.
  • Jesus said to the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee: “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” Mark 4:40.
• 6.   Fear of the Unknown.
  • “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming on the earth.” Luke 21:26.
  • Other examples are the fear of ghosts, or of scary things. (Job 4:14-16).

• 7.   Fear for others and the danger in which they stand.
  • “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” 1 Corinthians 2:3.
  • “But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3.
• II.   People Who Feared The Lord
  • 1)         Godly women fear the Lord. – Proverbs 31:30.
  • 2)         Jonah said to the sailors, ”I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea.” – Jonah 1:9.
  • 3)         Joseph said to his brothers: “I fear God”. – Genesis 42:18.
  • 4)         Job was described by Satan to God as: “Doth Job fear God for naught?” – Job 1:9.
  • 5)         Repentant thief on the Cross said to the other thief, “Dost not thou fear God?” – Luke 23:40.
  • 6)         Obadiah said to Elijah: “I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.” – I Kings 18:3,12.
  • 7)         One of the priests taught the people of Bethel how they should fear the Lord. 2 King 17:28,41.
  • 8) Abraham was told by the angel at Moriah: “Now I know that thou fearest God.” – Genesis 22:12.
• III.  What People Will Do Who Fear God
  • 1)         “Serve the Lord with fear.” Psalm 2:11.
  • 2)         “Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.” Psalm 128:1.
  • 3)         “They that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” Malachi 3:16.
  • 4)         “Ye that fear the Lord give audience.” Acts 13:16.
    •  Fear of The Lord = listen to preaching of God’s Word.
  • 5)         “Perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
    • Fear of The Lord = grow in holiness and love for God. 2 Cor.7:1.
  • 6)         Husband and wife will submit themselves one to another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:21.
  • 7)         Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), because you’ll have to give account of your service to God.
    • This means to work out the details of how to live and serve God.
• IV. Benefits and Blessings of Fearing God
  • 1)         Psalm 15:4 “He honours them that fear the Lord.”
  • 2)         Psalm 25:12 “Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.”
  • 3)         Psalm 25:14 “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him.”
  • 4)         Psalm 31:19 “How great is thy goodness laid up for them that fear thee.”
  • 5)         Psalm 33:18 “The eye of the Lord is on them that fear him.”
  • 6)         Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him and delivereth them.”
  • 7)         Psalm 34:9 “There is no want to them that fear Him.”
  • 8)         Psalm 34:11 “I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”
  • 9)         Psalm 85:9 “His salvation is near them that fear him.”
  • 10)      Psalm 103:11 “So great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.”
  • 11)      Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
  • 12)      Psalm 112:1-2 “His seed shall be mighty upon earth.”
  • 13)      Psalm 115:13 “He will bless them that fear the Lord.”
  • 14)      Psalm 119:63 “I am a companion of all them that fear thee.”
  • 15)      Psalm 119:74 “They that fear thee will be glad when they see me.”
  • 16)      Psalm 147:11 “The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him.”
  • 17)      Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord to hate evil.”
  • 18)      Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days.”
  • 19)      Proverbs 14:2 “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence.”
  • 20)      Proverbs14:27 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”
  • 21)      Proverbs 16:6 “By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.”
  • 22)      Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord tendeth to life.”
  • 23)      Proverbs 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honour and life.”
• Conclusion:

“Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.” Proverbs 23:17.

• Text:      I Corinthians 10:31-33
•  “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” – I Corinthians 10:31
• Intro:     The Bible commands us to “do all to the glory of God.”
  • This introduces the question:  “How can we glorify God?”
  • The Bible gives 12 main ways that we can glorify God.
    • If we focus our efforts in these 12 areas, our lives will truly bring much glory to God.
• We glorify God:
• 1.  By Preaching the Gospel.
  • See 2 Cor. 4:4 –  “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.”
    • The gospel is glorious because it makes known our glorious God’s nature and His simple plan of salvation.
    • The gospel leads ignorant, weak, sinful, degraded men to a world of light.
    • It is glorious and enlightening because of its splendor, beauty, certainty of heaven, forgiveness, fellowship and love that it gives to men –
      • Compared with the dark, despairing and hopeless systems of philosophy and heathenism that man thinks up.
• We glorify God:
• 2.  By Offering Praise to God.
  • Psalm 50:23 – “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.”
    • Praise involves giving God our love, thanksgiving, worship and talents to serve Him.
    • When a sinner receives Christ as his Saviour and confesses with his mouth the Lord Jesus, he is glorfying God.
    • Do you praise God daily?
    • Jesus said – “He (the Holy Spirit) shall glorify me.” (John 16:14).
    • Do you who have the indwelling Holy Spirit, glorify Christ?
• We glorify God:
• 3.  By Bearing much fruit.
  • John 15:8 – “herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit.”
  • Several different kinds of spiritual fruit are named in the Bible.
    • We bear fruit
      • When we win others to Christ (Rom. 1:13).
      • When we are a part of the harvest (John 4:35-38).
      • As we grow in holiness and obedience, we are bearing fruit (Rom. 6:22).
  • Paul considered Christian giving to be fruit from a dedicated life (Rom. 15:28).
  • “The fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23) is the kind of Christian character that glorifies God and makes Christ real to others.
  • Even our good works, our service, grow out of our abiding life (Col. 1:10).
  • The praise that comes from our hearts and lips is actually fruit to the glory of God (Heb. 13:15).
• We glorify God:
• 4.  By Finishing the work which God gives us to do. (
  • John 17:4
• We glorify God:
• 5.  By Keeping ourselves from evil in the world.
  • John 17:10,15
• We glorify God:
• 6.  When sinners get saved and become preachers.
  • For example, Paul.
    • Galatians1:23-24.
• We glorify God:
• 7.  When we fulfill God’s will for our life the name of our Lord Jesus
  • 2 Thess. 1:11-12
    • Christ is glorified – v. 12.
    • When we fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.
• We glorify God:
• 8.  When the Word of God has free course – not hindered.
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:1.
• We glorify God:
• 9.  When we speak as the Oracles of God, and minister (serve) to the best of our ability that God gives us.
  • I Peter 4:11
• We glorify God:
• 10.  When we are reproached for the name of Christ, and respond cheerfully.
  • I Peter 4:14
• We glorify God:
• 11.  When God delivers us from trouble.
  • Psalm 50:15
• God will be glorified –
• 12. When all nations come and worship Christ in the Millennium at Jerusalem.
  • Psalm 86:9
• We glorify God now by studying and teaching about Jesus Christ’s second coming.
• Conclusion:
  • Are you glorifying God now in all that you do?

• Text:         III John 1-14.
• Introduction:
  • Today many churches are being destroyed from within by the sins of professing Christians.
  • One person wants the pre-eminence, so he has to put others down.
  • This results in loss of:
    • a) Love to Christ,
    • b) Peace of God,
    • c) Freedom to serve God,
    • d) Joy in service,
    • e) Soul Winning drive
  • Each Christian is a good or bad witness.
    • We are either helping or hindering the truth.
  • We need to ask ourselves: ‘Are we part of the problem or are we part of the solution?’
  • III John was addressed to Gaius, a church leader.
    • John discusses Diotrophes and Demetrius.
• Consider each man’s ways:
• 1.   GAIUS the Encourager. (v.1-8).
  • i) Gaius was well beloved (v.1) and beloved (v.5).
  • ii) Gaius was Spiritually Healthy (v.2).
  • John wished that Gaius would be as physically healthy as he was spiritually healthy.
  • Spiritual health results from:
    • a) Nourishing ourselves daily with God’s Word.
    • b) Exercising ourselves unto Godliness (I Timothy 4:6-7).
    • c) Keeping ourselves clean (II Corinthians 7:1) and avoiding contamination and pollution of world.
    • d) Resting in the Lord and renewing our strength by close personal fellowship with Him. (Matt 11:28-30)
  • iii) Gaius was a good testimony (v.3-4).
    • Why?
    • Because God’s truth was in him and he obeyed it. (v.3).
  • We must digest God’s Word and make it part of us in order to have a good testimony. (Jeremiah 15:16).
  • iv) Gaius was a soul-winner and a Disciple-maker.
  • John here gives the key to joy in the Christian life (v.4).
  • It is soul winning and disciple making.
    • “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (v.4).
  • It is
    • a) Winning people for Christ, and b) Teaching them to walk in God’s truth.
    • Nothing else gives greater joy.
    • Gaius may have been one of John’s converts and disciples.
  • v) Gaius was a faithful man. (v.5).
    • Gaius helped both the brethren and strangers.
  • Question: What motivates us to have a practical ministry to other believers?
    • a) Desire to honour God (v.6). “after a Godly sort” means “worthy of God, as it befits God.”
  • Gaius showed hospitality to strangers who bore witness of Gaius’ charity before the church.
  • Some of these strangers may have been traveling gospel preachers.
    • b) Desire to help win the lost. This is achieved as we help God’s servants do this task. (v.7).
  • These traveling missionaries took no support from unsaved Gentiles, only from believers.
    • c) Desire to obey God. “We ought to receive such.” (v.8).
    • God wants us to help Gospel preachers who bring salvation to others.
    • Let us open our hearts to those who teach God’s truth.
• 2.   DIOTROPHES the Dictator. (v.9-11).
  • Many churches have members who insist on being boss.
    • A pastor or minister means ‘servant’.
    • Christ’s disciples argued over who would be greatest in the kingdom. (Matthew 18:1-6).
    • Jesus reminded them that their model for ministry was not government officials, but Christ who became a humble servant.
    • What are we told about Diotrophes?
  • a) He loved to have the pre-eminence. (v.9).
    • He wanted to be number one.
    • His motive was pride.
  • b) He would not receive John (v.9).
    • He could have learned so much from the Apostle John.
    • Why did he reject John?
    • Because John challenged his right to be a dictator in the church. (v.10a).
    • Diotrophes was proud and sought self-glory.
    • Diotrophes would not receive him. (v.10a).
  • c) He lied about John: ‘prating against us with malicious words,’ (v.10) means bringing false charges against us.
    • Do not believe all you are told about people.
    • Some people twist the truth.
  • d) Diotrophes rejected John’s associates. ‘neither doth he himself receive the brethren.’ (v.10).
  • e) Diotrophes disciplined those that disagreed with him by casting them out of the church.
    • He was destroying his own local church through his pride, fear and insensitivity.
    • He knew nothing of love.
• Lesson:
  • “Follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.” (v.11).
    • Follow good and you’ll follow God.
    • A test of ‘goodness’ is: ‘Is this beneficial to all’?
• 3. DEMETRIUS the Good Example (v.12-14).
  • Demetrius had a good report of:
    • a) all men;
    • b) the truth of the Bible;
    • c) John himself.
  • Demetrius was ‘an example, a model, an ideal Christian worthy to be imitated.’
• Question: Is it right to follow men?
  • Yes, only as they follow Christ.
  • The Apostle Paul wrote
    • “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.” Philippians 3:17.
    • “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” I Corinthians 11:1.
    • By our good example, we will “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” – Heb.10:24
• Conclusion:
  • John concludes that he would soon visit the church and speak face-to-face with the people.
    • This thought of accountability is important.
    • John wishes them peace, something that is hard to enjoy when Diotrophes wanted to be a boss and expel people.
    • In spite of trouble, we can still have the peace of God.
  • Greet the friends by name.
    • John calls them friends.
    • It’s good to be a friend-maker as well as a soul winner.
    • Diotrophes was so dictatorial that he had fewer and fewer friends.

1) Put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:11-18).

2) Know Satan’s devices (II Corinthians 2:11).

3) Resist the devil (James 4:7; I Peter 5:8,9).

4) Be sober, be vigilant lest he devour us (I Peter 5:8,9).

5) Give him no place (beach head). (Ephesians 4:7).

6) Quote Scripture to refute his lies (Matthew 4:1-11; I John 2:14).

7) Overcome him by the blood of Christ and a good testimony (Revelation 12:11).

8) Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18) & yielded to the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-13; 3:13)