Missions Paul

I don’t think there is anything more special at a funeral than hearing of how the person who lived a long life did so whilst remaining a Christian all their life.

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

3 John 1:2-4

Gaius was known for his ‘faithfulness to the truth’.

Today let’s stay in the truth of what we have been taught about Jesus Christ. Let’s ‘continue to walk in it’ Through the struggles and trials of life they are still continuing in the walk. They are reliable. They are there. When others have walked away they have stayed.

Maybe you’re thinking of walking away? Certainly walk away from the Diotrophes people (the disloyal) but not the truth of Jesus Christ.

I know a man who sits on the back row of a church who continually makes life difficult for the Pastor. He is influential as he used to be a leader himself. He looks very spiritual and holy, charismatic and he knows the Bible more than most. But he seems to reject everything that is presented, he opposes all the initiatives that the Pastor beings, he talks through the sermons correcting things he does t agree with. I know a few like him. And here in this the start of our reading of the 3rd letter of John I call them Diotrephes people. Let’s read 10 verses which we will explore over the next few days.

“The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.”

3 John 1:1-10

Diostrophes rejected John’s letter (v9); rejected the messengers from John (v10); and rejected the supporters of John also (v10). Diotrophes people are brilliant at rejecting!

But then there are Gaius type people. They are courageous in the circumstance of disloyalty.

I have been helping a church in Africa this year because their Elim Pastor (a Diotrophes) wanted to take his church out of the denomination, go independent and keep the building. He spent several months denouncing his roots and his own leaders and told his people they must also do the same. In confusion members began to walk away but then he publicly denounced them too telling the rest of the church not to have anything to do with those who walk away. He told them to reject them completely. In the end more walked away. In January I met this group as they came together for the first time. They had simply crossed the road and set up a make shift covering on poles and with their elders met for a worship service for the first time. They were battered and bruised spiritually. It felt like they were sheep without a shepherd, the service was filled with tears and wailing. But then came the move of God. He came with healing for their soul. It was a privilege to see God move on them. These courageous people are now under the care of a good shepherd and I am helping them the best I can. These people are Gaius people. It takes courage to stand in the face of disloyalty. Sometimes it is courageous to walk away from such people. They were once part of your life but you no longer let them ruin you anymore.

Who is coming? Jesus?

Yes!

But we are in the middle of reading a letter from the only remaining member of the 12 disciples to the Church. He is at pains that they remain true to their foundational belief about Jesus Christ. For this first century church they hear their leader and overseer is coming to them.

“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.” 2 John 1:12-13

He is coming for a face to face meeting. If anyone was thinking of drifting off to those charismatic antichrist leaders they would think again because their leader is on his way. No one knows when he will arrive so now is the time to stay on the straight and narrow.

Just like the parables of the wicked servant, the ten virgins, the talents and the watchful servants which Jesus told, He is also coming and we need to stay focused.

John gives a warning but with the hidden message of hope for he knows his joy will be complete if he finds them holding on to the truth.

Until Jesus comes, today and as every day we too choose to stand firm against the many loud voices attacking the person and nature of Jesus Christ. Those voices are wanting to dilute His Lordship in our lives.

Hold on to what the gospels teach us, do not be led astray, for He is coming and we will see Him face to face!

Old man John has known in his life times when God told him to write to churches. He has already written a letter and with this one he has one more to write.

However he has so much to say, within him the burden is too great, the message too important, how many letters would it take to get out of him what’s inside him?! He recognises that letters are not everything.

Here’s what he writes within this second letter …

“ I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink.”
‭‭2 John‬ ‭v12a

I write and read lots of emails and text messages in the course of a day and so do you. Often I wonder if it’s all become too much. I recognise more than most how amazing it is to connect to a global village pictures and posts that are such a blessing.

But there are times when just because you have a lot to say it doesn’t mean you have to send that text/email or sadly, for many people, vent their anger on social media.

Perhaps the message would be clearer if it wasn’t written down but spoken so that people not only see your message but also your heart.

An elderly disciple of Jesus, 2000 years ago understood that principle and here we are in our universal modern technological world needing to hear and heed that same principle.

We would all agree that hospitality is a gift and we should love even our enemies. So this is a bit difficult ….

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.” (2 John 10-11)

If we consider that the houses were the places of worship and ‘teaching’ (v10) then what John is saying is ‘don’t give false leaders a welcome into the public place where they can teach their lies about Jesus Christ.’ Limit their opportunities.

In a world where it seems the Church have mastered the art of division, nevertheless, it is crucial that we know what we must never compromise on:-

1. Are we teaching the authentic orthodox position of the person of Jesus Christ?

2. Are we aligning ourselves with Christians who are not Christians and therefore approving a diluted gospel message?

How much will we not compromise?

This is a big deal for John. The protection of the truth is crucial because he had heard, seen, looked and touched the risen Jesus. (1 John 1)

This is not about rejecting those who do not hold to our teaching on any other issue but it is about our beliefs being held tightly regarding the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Christ, the Incarnate, the Virgin birth, the cross, the resurrection, the ascension and the coming King. This is the foundation of the Christian belief and practice. We must not compromise on the teaching of Christ. There should be no welcome for such.

Think for a moment of those people who have invested in you. Perhaps your parents sharing their faith; a friend/mentor counselling you to walk with God; your Pastor or small group leader teaching you the truths; the Alpha course leader that introduced you to Jesus; they are still speaking, just as John is to the churches. They say ‘don’t let go now’.

John says, ‘we, including you, have worked hard in establishing the truths of Jesus’ teaching in the churches, we have been building community and we have been sharing the gospel across our world, don’t ruin what has happened by choosing the wrong side of this conflict.’

“Watch out that you do not lose what wehave worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 8-9)

Watch out.

In this conflict, John has called out the powerful and deceptive leaders who have been teaching a view of Jesus Christ which is not in line with the orthodox teaching of Christ.

What’s your conflict? Maybe you are not in one. Or are you?

Watch out.

There is a temptation to run ahead. To get so embroiled that you end up being captured by the conflict so much so that your relationship with the Father and with the Son is not the same neither is your love for God’s people.

The Church in the UK has most definitely found itself in conflict in recent times. Many have lost friends in those conflicts as the division runs deep. Thankfully in many cases the generations who have worked so hard for the church but who have died in the Lord are not seeing their work unravelling.

But Jesus does.

The problem with conflict is that there are losers.

John says to stay on the right side of conflict and do not lose what those who have given you. Don’t drop the baton. Keep to the traditions. Keep to the disciplines. Don’t go off track.

To say you believe in Jesus Christ is to live as Jesus Christ. The message of the Church is the affirmation of the person Jesus Christ. This affirmation is costly. The message is not everyone can come in and no one has to change. The church must be a reflection of Jesus Christ. This is the message of John as he calls for the Church members to walk in the truth. Now he goes further and stronger:

“I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2 John v 7)

If any ‘believers’ deny the complete incarnation of Jesus Christ, John calls them deceivers and the antichrist, not even agents of the antichrist!

We may look to singular villains of our world past and present and think are they the antichrist? But John says they come from within and they are here now. They are dethroning Jesus Christ and they do not live a Christ life.

A Church where Jesus Christ is not central for who He is and what He demands is not the church of Jesus.

Those who have ‘gone out’ from the church may have done so with a variety of sinful choices but see what they are saying about the person of Jesus Christ being the Son of God, the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the return of Jesus Christ, for it is these 3 things that are the stand out signs that any other teaching than what is the orthodox tradition, is a deception.

We live in days when Christians need to affirm their faith publicly in who Jesus Christ is. Sometimes Church can be more about who is in it than who is being followed.

It is hard at times to walk in the truth that Jesus is King and Lord of my life for all that I am must submit to His position. This is why Churches can be deceived by talking about God and God’s love but at the same time leaving Jesus Christ out of their conversation. Jesus Christ demands attention on the cross and the forgiveness of sin and sinful lifestyles so if we just not talk about Him and His work then we can carry on regardless under God’s love, can’t we?!

“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. ⁵ And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. ⁶ And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” (2 John v 4-6)

The ‘antichrists’ have not deceived everyone. John has heard that the church which Jesus died for is still alive and continuing in the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and they are called to love one another in the light of that truth.

So I remind myself this morning:

• To love is a command, it isn’t an option no matter how difficult that ‘fellow believer’ is.
• To love needs persistence, I have to keep going even though I want to walk away and wash my hands of loving that person.
• To love means to walk it out, it is to do things practically, words and actions, living out the commandment means you can see the love.

I have had a 40 day break and now pick up John’s second letter.

In his first letter, John is combatting those who have left the Church but have stayed in connection with the people and there is still the danger of their influence upon the members. It seems here in the second letter time has gone by and these deceivers are very much in the world, they have truly left. Any Pastor knows how difficult it is when people leave the church acrimoniously. It isn’t easy with the many connections that have been built up that their complaint doesn’t carry on even though they are not physically there in the church. We are going to see John become very strong in his instructions to the church on what to do. (Remember John’s complaint is about holding on to the orthodox teaching that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the great commands of God to love Him and to love one another). But this is less a theological document as the first letter is and actually more a personal letter as we see in the opening. John is the elder, the ones receiving the letter are the lady chosen and her children and he is sending grace, mercy and peace.

“The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— ² because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: ³ Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.” (2 John v 1-3)

John loves the church this is clear, the title ‘lady and to her children’ is perhaps unusual for us but seen as to the bride of Christ we then understand. The children are perhaps the smaller house churches scattered throughout the region. These members of the churches are people of the truth. That truth is Jesus Christ (“I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son” 1 John 2:21-22) and the Spirit of truth (“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17). He passionately longs for them to remain in the truth. In fact if they do then grace, mercy and peace are guaranteed.

What stirs my heart though this morning is how he introduces himself, the ‘elder’. We haven’t seen this before. Whilst we might think of this as some title of office in one of the churches of Paul, or perhaps simply a title of respect, it is definitely used to describe an elderly man, which is of course fitting John’s descript as he writes. This old man we know was there from the beginning to witness Jesus Christ.

The Church needs the elderly to rise to call God’s people back to the truth. I think of a 92 year old lady I spoke to recently who faithfully attends the prayer meeting and calls on God for revival again! Also of a lady yesterday who was the generation who outgrew one building and took faith steps to move into a bigger property. She is now still part of the church which is at the point of doing the same thing again. She said to me, “What God did before He will do again!”

If you an ‘elder’ today especially if that means you are spiritually too then please do act your age and call upon the Church to remain in the truth and to do so in love.

John ends his letter strangely: “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5 v 21)

We live in a rising idolatrous society where the orthodox Jesus is being replaced with a Jesus of convenience. If we keep Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, if Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then the sinner has a problem, the unloving have a problem.

Idols don’t replace God, they just replace His presence. From ancient times people have tried to use idols to get to God but they cannot.

The reason why people chase idols is because they need to personally experience the divine.

Today Christians carry wounds and many are battered from this life. They will come to Church this weekend carrying their hurt. In their desperation it is very easy to try and take short cuts to God.

John has been loud and clear throughout this letter. His gospel is the presence of Christ found in the love for the other believers. Anything less is not the Church. And as he closes this letter he lovingly calls the Church to keep themselves from anything that is not this gospel.

Keep yourself from distraction. Don’t give your time and energy to squabbles. Stop being unkind and unloving. Whatever you carry is your idol. Carry Jesus and love for others that is the only way. If you don’t then you will be following an idol.

Friends we come to the end of 1 John and I am going to take a 40 day break from posting. I will be seeking and writing without publishing. Thank you for regularly reading it makes publishing worthwhile. Please pray for me during this 40 days. See you around Easter time!