3 John Part 2

3 John Part 2
Intro- Review previous verses
When the books are opened, there will be hosts and hosts of names of people that made great sacrifices that have been unknown to us.
Does anybody know the preachers that where preaching when John Owen or Charles Spurgeon came to faith? Does anybody know the great sacrifices the men that Gaius was supporting where able to make for the kingdom of God.
Our military men go out and protect our country, serve and defend and aside form those in our family, many of us have no idea who they are. And occasionally we might see a thank our soldiers poster and we stop for a moment and move on. But we were not there the mornings they packed up there clothing to leave for a boot camp, leaving husbands and wives, fathers and mothers in the middle of the cold night in order to serve and protect. Oftentimes these men are going with one purpose in mind, wether it is to wage war or to serve and defend some never make it home again. And such is the case with missionaries who travel to Europe, Africa, South America, sometimes Antarctica, Asia, Australia and North America who oftentimes for the sake of the gospel never come home again either.
They live for a purpose that is greater than themselves.
And such is the case of these missionaries. Gaius was using what he had to send more of these Christians out into the world , but they need somewhere to go. In the first century there were no best westerns or Ritz Carlton’s and so traveling preachers depended on fellow Christians to lodge them and feed them and even sometimes offer them clothing.
v. 5- BELOVED, IT IS A FAITHFUL THING THAT YOU DO IN ALL YOUR EFFORTS FOR THE BROTHERS STRANGERS AS THEY ARE
A. Support
1. Hospitality
Hospitality- A friendly or generous reception of guest, visitors and strangers
From the Latin- hospitalitas- see hospital
Gaius – using his resources to benefit others, not once or twice but year round, day in and day out.
Romans 12- Marks of a true Christian-
Let love be genuine, Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection, Outdo one another in showing honor, Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, and seek to show hospitality.
Biblical examples of hospitality
1 Peter 4: 8-9 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Genesis teaches us that Laban’s hospitality was rewarded by finding a faithful servant for himself as well as a husband for his daughter, and the Lord’s blessing on his house. (Gen 30:27).
Rahab received the spies and offered them protection and was repaid abundantly in the preservation of her life as well as her families lives. Joshua 6:22
Martha and Mary gave Jesus a welcome into Bethany, being honored by his teaching, witnessing their brother Lazarus rise from the grave. (Luke 10:38-42).
The majority of young Christian’s spend more money on Christian books and Music than they do feeding the poor. In regards to Gaius sending and showing hospitality, this included briefly the care for the widow and the orphans.
James 1:27- Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their affliction
John 14:18- Jesus promises the holy spirit to his disciples by saying “I will not leave you as orphans I will come to you.
What if an individual Christian couple showed the love of the holy spirit to an orphan by taking him or her in, maybe not for life, but for a season. Organizations that have us send off checks are useful, but what does this do in the categories of interaction?
The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and expecting different results. What if instead of doing the same things we did different things?
There are political battles in courts today dealing with homosexual couples adopting orphans. In some American counties and cities more homosexual couples are bringing in orphans than is the church so desperate to have families.
"The Blind Side" depicts the story of Michael Oher, a homeless youngster from a broken home in a ghetto, taken in by a family who helps him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the families lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.
Why not? Why not your family?
Maybe we can’t change the world, maybe we may not be noticed, but we can certainly change somebody’s world. Some orphan, a child with no parents.
Support of pastors and missionaries, pastors and the oppressed
A. AS TAUGHT BY JESUS...
1. Jesus Himself was dependent upon others for support as He went about preaching - Lk 8:1-3
2. In sending out the twelve disciples, He taught that "a worker is worthy of his food" - cf. Mt 10:5-10
3. In sending out the seventy, He said "the laborer is worthy of his wages" - cf. Lk 10:1-8
B. IT IS A TESTIMONY TO OUR FAITHFULNESS...
1. John wrote of Gaius: "Beloved, you do faithfully..." - 3Jn 5
C. IT IS A TESTIMONY TO OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER...
1. John said of those who had received Gaius' hospitality that they "...had borne witness of your love..." - 3Jn 6a
2. We demonstrate that we are keeping that "new" commandment first given to us by the Lord Himself - cf. Jn 13:34-35
D. IT HONORS GOD...
1. John makes reference to sending such ministers on their journey "in a manner worthy of God" - 3Jn 6
IT IS A TESTIMONY TO THE LOST...
1. The ones Gaius was encouraged to support were those who were"taking nothing from the Gentiles" - 3Jn 7
a. This likely means they would not solicit support from the unsaved
b. Depending instead upon their brethren
2. When ministers of the gospel solicit help from those lost
souls they are trying to save, it sends a bad message
a. Perhaps the ministers are in it just for the money...
b. If what they taught was worth anything, why don't their own
followers support it?
3. When the gospel is offered free of cost, being supported
whole-heartedly by those who know it best, it can be a
powerful testimony of the value _we_ place on it!
OBLIGATION
Exchange of material things for spiritual things considered reasonable by Paul in 1Co 9:11.
1. As co-workers, we will one day enjoy the same rewards Mt 10:40-42
So they were strangers for the same cause,
Why extend generosity-
1. Same father
2. Stand side by side in the gospel
3. Same Jesus
As a Christian you will have more in common with these “strangers” for the cause of the gospel than with your own family members who do not believe. You may travel to China or to Africa and have more in common with a complete stranger because of the gospel.
V 6)- WHO TESTIFIED TO YOUR LOVE BEFORE THE CHURCH
Once you meet Diotrephes in the upcoming verses, you might understand this verse better. The Christians were returning to the senders and saying you need to meet Gaius. He lodged us, fed us, gave us money when we left.
Hospitality and generosity are lessons we need to learn every other week it seems.
Hebrews reminds us in 13:2- Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
And in the words of Jesus we are serving him
Matthew 25- I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and u welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and u came to me.
Disciples said when did we do such things?
45. Truly as you did for one of the least of these, my brothers, you will do it unto me.
Gaius is treating the strangers as he would treat Jesus.
V6B- you would do well to send them out in a manner worthy of God
John encourages him to continue sending and continue serving.
Your faith today may be a direct result of what Gaius was doing?
WORTHY OF GOD
2 Corinthians 4:5- For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves servants for Jesus’ sake.
Some are using “godliness as a means of great [financial] gain” (1 Timothy 6:5).
But like the Apostle Paul, we don’t want to be viewed as “peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity” (2 Corinthians 2:17).
In fact, Paul purposefully refrained from legitimate forms of financing his mission in order that the gospel might not be obscured by any misinterpretation of his motives.
Ministries like Desiring God and Grace to you make it a habit to give away free materials or to sell materials at half and sometimes more than half price in order to proclaim the truth to more people.
Many Pastors put weekend sermons up on the internet for free listening to anyone who would seek to hear the messages.
V 7- FOR THEY HAVE GONE OUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE NAME ACCEPTING NOTHING FROM THE GENTILES.
2. Testimony
David Livingston- “Send me anywhere, only go with me, lay any burden only sustain me, sever any ties but the ties that bind me to your service and to your heart, through it all the words of God came to him, lo I’m with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19
David Livingston packed his bags and left for Africa where his wife accompanied him place to place until their children began dying out of sickness and disease. Livingston sent his wife home where letters of love took months to exchange. The next time he saw his wife was not 5 weeks, not 5 months, but 5 years later. Mary did not recognize Livingston, he had run into the branch of a tree that blinded him in one eye, the African sun roasted his face and his body. His shoulder had been torn by a lion. When he attended universities he would receive standing ovations because the students were in the presence of a giant of a man. Livingston went back on his lonely journey to preach to the African people, when his wife joined him she contracted disease and he buried her. Livingston had either run out of his medication or someone had stolen it when Henry Morton Stanley, press reporter approached the praying man. He said 1 I am the biggest atheist you will ever meet so don’t try and convert me 2. I have your medication. Traveled 4 months and he converted, 2 volumes Livingston of Africa.
High temperatures and pain, trembling, need to go home. Please help me onto my knees for prayer. Walking over towards him, Livingston fell over he was dead, dying the way he had lived. He didn’t sell his soul for earthly pleasure.
Or should I mention Owen, who despite losing 11 children he preached on and wrote volumes for the glory of God
Harry Ironside who died while on a preaching tour in New Zealand
Melvin Trotter- who escaped drunkenness to set up sixty seven rescue missions for the down and out from Boston to san Francisco.
William Booth- who began the East London Chrsitain Revival society, better known as the salvation army.
Robert Moffat- left at 21 for cape town Africa, spent 51 years on the mission field losing 3 children in infancy, leaving 5 more as missionaries, Mary his oldest was the wife of Livingston whose story I mentioned moments ago. His work opened up the floodgates of African missionaries including Livingston, setting up seminaries for natives to learn the gospel and share with their own.
The same goes for Hudson Taylor in China.
Churches are stronger there today then in America as a result of these men sacrificing “For the sake of the name”. What are you doing for the sake of the name?
V8)- THEREFORE WE OUGHT TO SUPPORT PEOPLE LIKE THESE, FELLOW WORKERS FOR THE TRUTH.
In taking what you have you are involved in the endeavor.
These mentioned above went out not for the sake of themselves, but for the sake of Christ.
The name above all names
Acts 4:12- And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven given among men by which we may be saved.
B. Opposition-
Read v- 9-10
V9- He refuses to receive an apostle, idiotic. Pride and self-glorification!
V 10- He lied about John – Talking lies behind the back of John. Making a fool out of himself talking about an apostle, the people knew it was foolish.
In the gospel ministry there will always be opposition.
1. Putting himself first, “having nothing to do with us”
Diotrephes wanted to be the boss, Church is not a business. The pastor is not a Madison avenue tycoon, he is a servant.
Wierzbe says to many pastors are holding wireless cellphones and not towels, having a love for self rather than a heart for the lost. Caring more about who the church is bringing in rather than who it is sending out. His motive was not what will this do for the kingdom but what will this do for Diotrephes.
2. Gossiping maliciously
What id your mic was on all the time?
Filter your reports through Phil 4:8- “Finally, whatever is true whatever is noble think on such things.
Talking wicked nonsense
3. He refuses to welcome the brothers
Refuses to be hospitable or to make any sacrifice.
Remember Christ made himself nothing while Satan tried to make himself everything.
4. Putting the brothers out of the church
Using the discipline of the church in a wicked manner, protecting himself at the expense of others. Diotrephes was putting members of the church out because they were siding with the Apostles authority. Guilt by association.
When we have the spirit of both Gaius and Demetrius who we will met next week, others will come and tell of our testimony’s.
The Solution-
John will simply go and “call attention to what he is doing”. John again shows the character of Chrsit that sinners not be condemned, but that they come to repentance.
Romans 14:12 “So then, each of us will give an account of himself before God.
His name is sketched in the word as a result of his conduct, what would your name be sketched as?
The grace of God will allow our good works to add up
Sermon collection
C. Conclusion
Allistair Begg illustration
Plaque on a wall in the caves below an island off of the coast of the United Kingdom- woman of the compassionate society to the members of the RAF- we send out love- 56 mittens, 27 socks, 45 flying helmets, 15 sweaters…….
I wonder who those woman were- airmen flying were secure and warm by an unknown, just a knitter. There is no such thing as just a knitter when your hands are freezing at high altitudes. Or just a flying helmet when your being shot at by the luftwaft.
1. The woman believed in the cause of the men as they faught to stop Nazi Germany and the christians believed in the message these warriors were sending out.
2. They have no other means of support
“As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack” 2 Corinthians 8:15