Good morning, and a most blessed Thursday morning to you.

Would you please open your Bibles to 3 John for our study today.

And there we meet a person by the name, Diotrephes. Diotrephes was doing some terrible, terrible things.

Look with me please, at verse 10.

"So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us." 

“And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the friends.”  So Diotrephes was not only telling lies, but he was also refusing to welcome the friends, or the traveling ministers that would come.  But that's not all.  Going on the scripture says..

“and even prevents those who want to do so.”  So not only is he doing these things… not welcoming the traveling ministers, and the spreading of these lies, and wicked nonsense. But he's also preventing the people in the church from welcoming the traveling ministers.

And that's not all…. “and expels them from the church.”   He was expelling those that wanted to welcome the traveling ministers from the church.

Diotrephes was doing terrible, terrible things.  And what was at the heart of all of this?  Look at verse 9.

 "I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority."

Diotrephes liked to put himself first, and he did not acknowledge the authority of the apostles.  The apostolic teaching was the authority.  Or to put it another way, before the New Testament came into being, the apostolic teaching was really the Bible. 

So Diotrephes was ignoring the truth, and elevating himself, putting himself first, and stifling of servanthood.  

If we're all honest, we can see in our own lives times where we are just selfish, where we elevate ourselves. God comes to us through His Word and reveals to us those times, those examples, those areas in our life when our selfishness can manifest itself. We are convicted of that.  Yet God doesn't leave us there. God comes with His gracious Word of forgiveness to us. Jesus Christ has borne our sins on the cross, including all those times when we manifest selfishness in our lives.  The blood of Jesus Christ covers all of our sin.

Well, that's what 3 John talks about Diotrephes. But then we meet someone else.  Look at verse 12…

12 Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.

Demetrius, his teaching, his actions, reflected the truth of the apostolic teaching. That's all that we know about Demetrius. But 

if that's all you're known for, how wonderful is that!

Two men:  Diotrephes and Demetrius. One doing terrible things, and one who is commended.

God in His grace, roots us in the Word, and brings forth from us that expression of servanthood.

I think of what the scripture says in Mark the 9th chapter.

33 Then they came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”

Diotrephes: putting himself first. No thanks.  Demetrius: expressing by God's grace the apostolic teaching. Yes! And God at work in our lives, bringing forth through His Word the servant that he calls us to be.

Let's pray.  Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for this time in your Word.  Your Word is truth.  We pray, Lord, that by your grace, you might manifest in our lives this expression of servanthood. Lord, forgive us for our selfishness. Forgive us for when we put ourselves first.  May we see every opportunity to be a servant in all areas of our lives… to serve others to your glory.  Thank you, Lord, that by your grace You were at work, and powering us to that end.  In Jesus’ strong and holy name we pray.  Amen. 

God bless you this week.  Encourage someone!

Pastor Eibel