Good morning, church. It is a joy to get to preach here. If you guys will take your copy of God, God's word. We're going to be in the book of third John. We're going to preach through the whole book, all 15 verses. But as you're turning there, I want to ask you guys a few questions.
Who do you imitate? Who do you look up to and desire to be like? And don't say nobody, because we all look up to someone. We are all influenced by someone. But are those who influence us influenced by Christ?
This text will call us to imitate good and not evil. And if we are not careful, we will slowly be shaped and molded by those who do not walk according to the example we have in Christ.
So let's read our text today from third John verses one through 15.
The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health as it goes well with your soul.
For I rejoice greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church.
You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.
For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
Therefore, we ought to support people like these that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.
So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us and not content with that.
He refuses to welcome the brothers and also stops those who wants to and puts them out of the church.
Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good.
Whoever does good is from God and whoever does evil has not seen God.
Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone and from the truth itself.
We also add our testimony and you know that our testimony is true.
I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink.
I hope to see you soon and we will talk face to face.
Peace be to you.
The friends greet you.
Greet the friends each by name.
Amen.
So here we have a letter from the elder John and he is writing a personal letter to a man named Gaius,
who most likely came to faith through John's witness.
And Gaius is a member of a church along with this man named Diotrephes.
And we don't really know much information about Diotrephes.
We don't know if he was a pastor or just a regular church member with way too much influence.
But one thing is clear about Diotrephes is that he was a man of evil character.
So I'm going to break up today's sermon into four parts.
Part one is going to be the love and joy of John.
Part two, the good example of Gaius.
Part three, the evil example of Diotrephes.
And then part four, the conclusion, who do you imitate?
So part one, the love and joy of John.
So I want you to look closely at the way that John talks to Gaius.
In verse one, he calls him beloved.
And then he says, whom I love in the truth.
In verse two, he refers to him again as beloved and mentioned how he is praying for him.
And what is the content of his prayer?
John prays that Gaius would be in good health as it goes well with his soul.
So what is John saying here?
He is saying that Gaius is spiritually healthy.
And his desires that Gaius would be in good physical health as well.
We don't know exactly the context.
But it is very possible that Gaius suffered from some kind of physical ailment that constantly plagued him.
We don't really know.
But here is a lesson for us.
It is good for us to pray for the physical health of others.
But may this not be our primary concern.
May their spiritual health be our fervent prayer.
Good health is a blessing, but it is not promised to us.
And I would rather see someone with a broken body heading to the celestial kingdom
than a man or woman of excellent physical health heading to the place of eternal torment.
There it will not matter whether your body is healthy, strong, or fit
because the flames do not show partiality to those they will burn without consuming.
So how is your spiritual health?
Would John be able to say the same of you?
And I'm thankful that there are many here at church who are concerned about physical health.
But do not make physical health your idol.
If it were stripped away from you, could you still rejoice in the Lord?
Would someone still look at you and say,
My heart really aches for that brother and sister, for the pain that they are feeling.
But I rejoice because they are spiritually well.
So be diligent in taking care of your physical body.
But of far more importance is the diligent care of your soul.
So next, let's look how he rejoices in verse 3.
He says,
I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth,
as indeed you are walking in the truth.
It brought John great joy to see how Gaius was not just talking,
but was actually walking in the truth.
And he demonstrated this through the way that he treated these traveling gospel workers.
And we will touch on this more when we look at the example of Gaius.
But in verse 4, John proclaims,
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
It was his greatest joy to know that those he shared the gospel with
and discipled were faithfully walking in the truth.
Gaius might have been physically ill,
but John rejoiced that Gaius was spiritually well.
As followers of Christ, this should be the same for those who we've had the opportunity
to share the gospel with or disciple.
And for pastors, this should be your greatest joy to see the members under your care
faithfully walking in the truth.
And so while this text is referring to spiritual children,
it can also apply to physical children.
Charles Spurgeon, he used to use this text not only to challenge ministers of the word,
but also parents.
He used to walk into the home and look parents straight in the eyes,
and he challenged them to make spiritual children in their own families.
He said,
It is a very grievous thing to see how some professedly Christian parents are satisfied
so as long as their children display cleverness in learning or sharpness in business,
although they show no signs of a renewed nature.
If they pass their examinations with credit and promise to be well fitted for the world's battle,
their parents forget that there is a superior calling involving a higher crown
for which their child will need to be fitted by divine grace and armed with the whole armor of God.
When a man's heart is really right with God,
and he himself has been saved from the wrath to come
and is living in the light of his heavenly father's countenance,
it is certain that he is anxious about his children's souls,
prizes their immortal natures,
and feels nothing could give him greater joy
than to hear that his children walk in the truth of God.
So parents, is it your greatest joy to see your children walking in the truth?
Mothers, on this Mother's Day,
may your greatest joy and prayer be to see your children walking in the truth.
As moms, you get to spend a special amount of time with your children,
instilling in them the truths.
And when your kids reflect on all the things that mom used to say,
don't let the phrases that they think of be,
don't forget to wash your hands,
or don't talk to strangers,
or use your manners,
or eat your fruits and veggies.
This would be a tragedy
if this is all you are remembered by.
But let your children remember
how mom used to say,
you cannot love Christ
and hate the church.
Or,
if God cares for the birds, little one,
do you not think that he will care for you?
Or,
remember, my child,
that in Christ,
all your sins can be forgiven.
Fathers,
fathers,
lead your wives and kids
in a way that instills these truths
deep into their soul.
Love your spiritual children
and physical children
as John loved Gaius.
So lastly, in part one,
let's actually skip down
to verses 13 through 15.
Most of you guys won't have to turn your page,
but some of you may.
And let's read what John says here.
He says,
I had much to write to you,
but I would rather not write
with pen and ink.
I hope to see you soon,
and we will talk face to face.
Peace be to you.
The friends greet you.
Greet the friends,
each by name.
We can see here
John's deep longing
to be face to face with Gaius.
It wasn't enough for John
to just communicate it
with pen and ink.
He loved him too much.
He wanted to see him soon.
He wanted to be face to face.
This was indeed his spiritual child,
and what parent
who truly loves their child
would be content
only see them over a computer screen
or hearing from them
in an email or text
every once in a while.
It would be heartbreaking
because there is a deep longing
to be together,
to be in the presence
of one another.
So in this letter,
we see John's immense love
and joy
to see his spiritual child,
Gaius,
walking in the truth.
And honestly,
this reminds me of last Sunday,
seeing one of our own elders,
Clay,
tearing up as Jake Hughes
and his wife were moving away
and would no longer be gathering
with Christ Family Church.
Why such tears
from a tough Irishman?
Because Clay was experiencing
the immense joy and love
to see his child
walking in the truth
and the pain
of no longer
being face to face with him.
So now we're going to move
to part two,
the good example
of Gaius.
So let's return back
to verses one through four.
And I want you to notice
how many times
the word truth
is used here.
Verse one,
it says,
whom I love
in the truth.
And in verse three,
he says,
testify to your truth
as indeed you are walking
in the truth.
And verse four,
my children
walking
in the truth.
So Gaius
was walking
in the truth.
But what does this mean
that he is walking
in the truth?
Well,
if we actually go back
to John's first letter,
we will get a clearer picture
of what he means here.
So let's go to
first John
chapter two
and we're going to read
verses three through six.
First John chapter two
verses three through six.
it says,
and by this,
we know that we have
come to know him.
If we keep his commandments,
whoever says,
I know him,
but does not keep his commandments
is a liar
and the truth
is not in him.
but whoever keeps his word
in him,
truly the love of God
is perfected.
By this,
we may know
that we are in him.
Whoever says he abides
in him
ought to walk
in the same way
in which he
walked.
Notice how
if someone says
they know him,
but does not keep
his commandments,
the text calls him
a liar
and says the truth
is not in him.
So the one who
knows him
obeys his commands
and thus walks
in the truth.
And notice the last part
of verse six.
It says,
whoever says he abides
in him
ought to walk
in the same way
in which he
walked.
In other words,
Jesus
is the example
in which we should
be striving
to imitate.
We should
love the way
that he loved.
We should obey God
the way that he did.
But first John
is clear
that we will not
do this perfectly.
But this should be
our heart's desire
and aim
to be more
like Christ's.
Like the words
of a good old hymn,
O to be more,
O to be like thee,
blessed Redeemer.
This is my
constant longing
and prayer.
gladly
I'll forfeit
all of
earth's treasures
for thy
perfect likeness
to wear.
And so it was
with Gaius.
He not only
confessed the truth,
but he actually
walked in the truth.
He not only
said he had
fellowship with God,
but he showed
the truth
that he believed
by the way
he lived.
And this is
contrary
to the way
of
diatrophies.
he probably
confessed the truth.
He was a member
of this church.
But it seems
as if he lived
contrary
to his
confession.
And this is
a great place,
brothers and sisters,
to remind you
that you are only
saved by grace
alone,
through faith
alone,
in Christ alone.
Walking in the
truth does
not save you.
But let me
be clear.
If you
genuinely
believe that
Jesus Christ
died as a
perfectly
righteous
substitute
on your
behalf
to save
you from
the wrath
of God
and that
he gives
you his
righteousness
so that
you can
stand before
God
righteous
and justified,
out of
love for
God,
you will
walk in
the truth.
You will
walk in
the truth
because you
have been
saved,
not in
order to
be saved.
we are
too quick
to forget
the gospel
and try
to earn
right standing
before God.
By faith
you have
right standing
before God.
So live
for him
and walk
in the
truth.
And if
you are
trying to
earn
right standing
before God
by being a
good enough
person,
then repent
and believe
the gospel.
people,
I've had
too many
conversations
with people
where they
say they're
Christians,
so then I'll
ask them,
I was like,
so why do
you think you
should get
into heaven?
And the
most common
answer I've
heard from
these supposed
Christians is,
well, I think
I'm a good
enough person.
And to that
I tell you,
no, you
are not
good enough.
Only Christ
is good
enough and
he died
for you.
Believe in
him alone
for salvation.
Trust that
his sacrifice
is enough
and let
him change
you as
you keep
your eyes
fixated upon
him and
his word.
So Gaius
was not
merely talking,
but he
was also
walking in
the truth.
And verses
five through
six, so
we're going
to go back
to third
John.
And we're
going to
read verses
five through
six, which
give us a
tangible example
of how he
walked in
the truth.
So let's
read verses
five through
six.
Beloved,
it is a
faithful thing
you do in
all your
efforts for
these brothers,
strangers as
they are,
who testified
to your love
before the
church.
you would
do well to
send them on
their journey
in a manner
worthy of
God.
So back
then, those
who would do
traveling ministry
depended upon
the hospitality
of others.
And here's an
example of a
church that
should be
receiving these
gospel workers,
but because of
deatrophies,
they are
unwelcomed.
And deatrophies
tries to put
out of the
church anyone
who would dare
to welcome
them.
But Gaius
boldly welcomes
these brothers
and shows them
an extreme
amount of
hospitality,
even though he
barely knows
them.
To Gaius,
they are
strangers in
one sense,
as the text
says,
but they are
beloved brothers
in another
sense.
Gaius shows
his faith in
action by the
way he receives
these brothers,
risking getting
maligned and
wrongly put out
of the church.
His faith was
evident in
his actions.
So let's
read verses
seven and
eight,
which say,
for they have
gone out for
the sake of
the name,
accepting nothing
from the
Gentiles.
Therefore,
we ought to
support people
like these,
that we may be
fellow workers
for the truth.
here we have
these gospel
workers,
or we could
even say
missionaries,
who have gone
out for the
sake of the
gospel.
And John is
saying that we
ought to support
people like
these.
They aren't
receiving their
support from
the Gentiles,
that is,
the non-believers,
because their
work is for
the building up
of the church.
And since it
is for the
building of
the church,
it should be
from those
within the
church.
And so,
John says we
ought to support
workers like
these,
who are going
out for the
sake of the
name,
but he doesn't
leave it at
that.
He gives us
the reason
why we
should.
He says
that we may
be fellow
workers for
the truth.
As you support
workers who
have gone out
for the sake
of the gospel,
you are actually
joining,
partnering,
in their
work.
And as my
wife and I
were just
starting to
raise support,
I remember
complaining about
having to raise
support to a
good friend who
was actually
already supporting
us.
And I was
complaining just
kind of about
the process.
And he
looked at me
and sternly
but lovingly
rebuked me,
saying,
I work really
hard to make
extra money
so that I can
support those
taking the
gospel to the
nations.
this is my
way of
getting to
be a part
of the
great
commission.
In other
words,
what he
was saying
was,
shut your
mouth and
see it for
what it
truly is.
You are
inviting
people in
to be a
part of
the gospel
going to
the ends
of the
earth.
And this
totally
changed my
perspective
and made
raising support
actually a
joy because
we realized
we were
inviting
others to
take part
in the
great
commission.
And is
this not
what John
is talking
about here
in verse
eight?
Is he not
saying that
those who
support people
like these
are fellow
workers for
the truth?
So praise
God that
though you
may not
go,
you have
the opportunity
to go in
your giving,
in your
praying,
and in your
encouragement.
commitment.
But,
there's also
a warning
here.
If your
support means
that you
are partnering
in that
work,
should you
not know
what you
are partnering
in?
Should you
not be
careful and
intentional in
the work you
are supporting?
I've known
too many
people who
are giving
to different
ministries and
I'm sure
they have a
good heart,
they're giving
and they
just want to
be generous,
but they
have no
idea what
are the
aim,
what is the
aim and
mission of
these ministries.
Maybe they're
given to feel
good or maybe
they're given
because they
like the guy
and they
couldn't say
no,
but for all
they know,
they might be
supporting a
work that is
actually contrary
to the
gospel.
So be
careful who
you do
support and
be intentional
who you are
supporting,
because in
your support,
you are
also partnering
in that
work.
So we
see in the
example of
Gaius that
he believed
the truth and
thus walked
in the truth.
And one
example that
evidenced his
walking in the
truth was the
way that he
cared for and
supported these
gospel workers.
Maybe you look
to Gaius as a
good and
faithful example
of someone
walking in
the truth.
part three,
the bad
example of
diatrophies.
So verses
9 through 10
in 3 John
turn our
attention to a
man named
diatrophies.
And as I said
earlier, it
seems as if he
was a leader in
the church, but
we don't actually
have too much
information about
his position.
One thing is
clear, though.
It says he
was a man who
liked to put
himself first.
first.
And in his
putting himself
first, the text
says he does
not acknowledge
our authority.
It says that he
is talking wicked
nonsense against
us and not
content with that.
He refuses to
welcome the
brothers and
also stops those
who wants to
and puts them
out of the
church.
He does all
of these evil
deeds because
his self-idolatry
was under
attack.
But does he
not contradict
the very life
and words of
Jesus when
Jesus said in
Matthew chapter
20 verses 27
through 28, and
whoever would be
first among you
must be your
slave, even as
the son of man
came not to be
served, but to
serve and to
give his life as
a ransom for
many.
Or Paul's
teaching in
Philippians chapter
two, verse
three, when he
says do nothing
out of selfish
ambition or
conceit, but in
humility count
others more
significant than
yourselves.
We must be
like Gaius, who
though he was
probably ill,
though he could
have been put
out of the
church and
maligned, he
did not put
himself first,
but cared for
these traveling
gospel workers.
He put them
first.
Do not be like
diatrophies, who
put himself first.
And this is so
easy to do.
I think about
this past week as
I was preparing
for this sermon,
how many times I
had don't be like
diatrophies playing
in the back of my
brain, especially
with everything
going on where I
was tempted to
put myself first.
But we must not
be like diatrophies.
we need to deny
ourselves, take up
our cross, and
follow him.
So fathers and
husbands, putting
yourself first will
cause you to be
unkind to your
wife and kids.
It will cause you
to be short
tempered, easily
irritated, slow
to listen, and
quick to speak.
Mothers and
wives, putting
yourself first will
cause you to
neglect your kids
when they need
you the most, to
see your kids as
a burden rather
than a blessing, to
see them as getting
in the way of what
you really want to
do.
It will cause you
not to submit to
your husband or to
try to subvert his
leadership.
Bosses, putting
yourself first will
cause you to see
your employees as
just tools of making
more money or
creating more
leisure for
yourselves rather
other than people
made in the image
of God.
Employees, putting
yourself first will
cause you to not
work diligently, to
grumble and
complain, to text
or be on social
media or play games
when you probably
should actually be
working.
Students, putting
yourself first will
cause you to go for
a career that will
benefit you the most,
not considering your
family, your church
or how it could
serve the Lord.
It may cause you to
be focused on grades
to the point that you
ignore the people God
has put in your life
or you would rather
spend time studying or
working on projects or
paper when you should
probably be gathering
with the church on
Sunday.
Children, putting
yourselves first will
cause you to disobey
your parents, be mean
to your siblings, to
grumble and complain
and argue when they
ask you to do
something.
Lastly, church
members, putting
yourself first will
cause you to grumble
and complain when at
a member meeting
there's a decision put
forth that isn't
convenient or
comfortable for you.
It will cause you to
vote in such a way
that benefits you the
most, not considering
your brothers or
sisters or your
leaders who God has
put in charge of
shepherding your soul.
people.
These are just a few
examples and there's
so much more that could
be said about this
section, but I hope you
see the danger of
putting yourself first.
It does not glorify the
Lord and walks contrary
to the example we have
in Christ.
Do not imitate
diatrophies who like to
put himself first, but
imitate Gaius as he
walked in the truth.
part four conclusion.
Who do you imitate?
Verse 11 gives us the
main command in third
John.
It says, beloved, do
not imitate evil, but
imitate good.
Whoever does good is
from God and whoever
does evil has not seen
God.
He follows this by
pointing to another
brother, Demetrius,
saying Demetrius has
received good testimony
from everyone and
from the truth itself.
We also add our
testimony and you know
that our testimony is
true.
Demetrius had a good
and faithful reputation
and he was another one
to be imitated, but we
obviously don't have
many details surrounding
his life.
But what we do have is
an example of Gaius and
the example of diatrophies
and a call to imitate
good and not evil.
And as I said earlier,
we all imitate someone.
So my question is, who
do you imitate?
Who is the person that
captures an ideal that
you desire?
Is it a famous person or
singer?
If you would pay a lot
of money and drive hours
to go see this person, it
might be a sign that you
are greatly influenced by
them.
And if you aren't
careful, you will start
to imitate their way of
living.
Maybe you desire to
imitate someone that
isn't evil, but who
should not be your
ultimate desire to
become like.
Maybe it is the
Instagram influencer
mom.
Maybe it's a certain
successful businessman,
a certain professor,
hunter, or athlete,
or soldier.
You fill in the blank.
If the person you are
seeking to imitate
isn't helping you grow
in godliness and
holiness, should you
ultimately be imitating
them?
Could you say, as Paul
said in 1 Corinthians 11,
follow me as I follow
Christ?
In other words, look at
my example in so much
as I am following
Christ.
He also says in
Philippians 3 17,
join in imitating me
and keep your eyes on
those who walk
according to the
example you have
in us.
We have the truth
and this truth
teaches us how to
live and we need
human examples
of those truths
lived out.
Do you have
brothers and sisters
in the faith that you
could point to
and say,
be like so-and-so,
consider the way he
follows Christ?
Parents, as your kids
are growing up,
who can you point to
and say,
if you want to be a
businessman,
consider this person
and the way his faith
is at action in his
work.
Or if you want to be a
mother,
don't only look to my
example, but consider
this mom and how she is
faithfully discipling
and training up her
children.
We need the church
on this journey
to look to one
another and to learn
how to live out the
truth.
And parents, if your
children do not have
godly examples to
look to, they will
look to the world.
Be careful of the
role models you put
before them.
Be watchful of who
you idolize in the
home, who is on
your TV, and who is
on your speakers.
Your kids are
watching, they're
learning, and they're
imitating.
This is also my
plug for reading good
Christian biographies,
for the sake of your
soul and your
families, to have
these imperfect
examples of
believers striving to
live like the perfect
example, Christ.
So I'd like to end
with the command of
3 John verse 11.
Beloved, do not
imitate evil, but
imitate good.
So ask yourself, who
do you imitate, whether
secretly or openly?
And if this person
does not point you to
Christ, to the
gospel, if this person
is not walking in the
truth, ask yourself,
should you be
imitating them?
And ask yourself, who
should you imitate?
Beware of those who
walk in the way of
deatrophies, who
walk contrary to the
truth.
But look for those
like Gaius, who
walk in the truth, to
those who not only
believe the truth, but
live lives that
evidence the truth
that they believe.
Let's pray, church.