Perverting God's Grace (2)

TEXT: 3 JOHN 1:9-11 (NIV)

"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. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God."

PRIDE IN THE CHURCH

In one of the local churches at the time of the beloved Apostle John, Diotrephes was busy frustrating the efforts of travelling ministers of the gospel. He refused to allow them into the church and even went as far as expelling those who cared for such ministers out of the church of God. Pride can lead a person to pervert the grace of God. Diotrephes loved to be first and in order to maintain his position of preeminence he discredited others by spreading malicious words about them. When God, by his grace, puts us in positions of leadership and authority, such privilege should not be abused. The church belongs to God and Jesus Christ is the head of the church. All powers in the church are subject to Jesus (Eph 5:23-24). You will not be a hindrance to the work of God in Jesus name

"In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor" (1 Pet 5:5-6).

God gives grace to those who humble themselves before him but takes away the grace of the proud and even opposes them. People who frustrate and pervert God's grace end up being frustrated, they become reprobates. Titus 1:16 says concerning them: "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.' Are you in the church of God and working against the advancement of the gospel? God is not pleased, repent today and turn from your evil ways. Pride, the Bible says, goes before destruction (Prov 16:18). The Lord by his mighty power will erase every stain of pride in your life in Jesus name.

PRIDE LEADS TO DESTRUCTION

King Nebuchadnezzar treated God's grace like vomit and he fell from grace to grass. He became a forest dwelling beast until the mercy of God restored him to his throne (Dan 4:30-34).

Ananias and Sapphira took the grace of God for granted, conspiring and lying to the Holy Spirit of God, both died instantly without remedy (Acts 5:1-10).

God has poured immeasurable grace upon his church (2 Cor 8:1) and anyone who wants to pervert this grace by casting the church in bad light will be destroyed by God. Opportunities abound for such people to repent but if they persist in their pride and inglorious actions, their end will be swift.

God's warning is clear: "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Prov 29:1).

CHRIST'S SOLEMN WARNING

Some 'owners' and leaders of churches have turned them to money making enterprises. Others prey on innocent girls and women to satisfy their immoral lust. In their quest for fame, wealth and power, some have turned churches to shrines; worshipping men, mammon and man made objects. They mislead people with doctrines from the pit of hell. The warning of Jesus to the church of the Loadiceans is ringing loud and clear to these churches and church leaders: "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked" (Rev 3:15-17 NLT).

CONCLUSION

We thank God for his church because the gates of hell shall not prevail over the church. We thank God for leaders that are upholding the doctrine of Christ and moving the church forward. The Lord will bless their labour of love to the body of Christ. Remember this: "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim 2:19).

PRAYER:

Father, pour your grace in overflowing measure upon my life in Jesus name.

CONFESSION:

I will not frustrate God's grace in my life.

God bless you. Shalom.