TEXT: 2nd John 1-13
TITLE: Dear Chosen Lady…”Walk THIS Way”
SERIES: Letters from John
TOPIC: Walking in truth
OCCASION: Hessville Christian Church, November 28, 2010
PROP.: John’s main purpose for writing this letter is to make sure we walk: In Truth, In Love and In Obedience.
INTRODUCTION: Good morning! We are continuing in a sermon series through the postcards of John. Last week, we studied third John and this week we are studying 2nd John.
Now that may seem like it’s reverse order, but if you remember last week, I told you that the #’s of the books…you know, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd…was added later and the letters of John were ordered in rank of size. And I also told you, that we studied 3rd and 2nd John first because they really set the table for what John will write in 1st John.
So our text is all 13 verses of 2nd John. REALLY QUICK, I want to recap 3rd John for you. 3rd John is a letter that was addressed to one of John’s friends by the name of GAIUS. Gaius was a man noted for his generosity and faithfulness to the church because he would welcome the traveling preachers into his home and take care of them.
On the other hand, John writes Gaius to warn him about DIOTROPHES. Remember him? He was a member of the same church that Gaius attended and was even apparently a leader in that church.
But Diotrophes was full of himself. He didn’t want John or other traveling preachers coming into the church. He wanted to rule the church - not lead the church…rule. And in John’s letter to Gaius, he mentions in verse 9 “I wrote to the church, but Diotrophes, who loves to be first will not welcome us.” And what I believe happened is John wrote a letter to the church and Diotrophes wouldn’t let it be read by the church. He maybe even destroyed it!
So, John wrote two letters at the same time. He wrote 3rd John to Gaius. And he wrote a second letter to be read by the church…that second letter to the church is our text this morning.
2nd John 1-13
1 The elder,
To the lady chosen by God and to her children, (let’s stop right there. Remember, John is the last eye witness alive of Jesus’ entire earthly ministry! The other apostles have died martyrs death. By the time John writes this letter he is about 80 years old! And so he refers to himself as “the old man”. The grandfather figure, the overseer of several churches throughout Asia minor. And John addresses this particular letter to the chosen lady and her children. Who is he referring?
Well there are a couple of ideas about this. It’s possible, that John is addressing this letter to a kind generous lady. But honestly, that’s highly unlikely.
The more reasonable and likely possibility is that John is addressing a church. Well isn’t that odd that John refers to the church as a lady? Not really! The church is known as the bride of Christ! And what’s cool is the word ‘lady’ there in verse 1 is the feminine of the word LORD. So it could almost be read as: To Mrs. Lord…Jesus’ bride. And so to be thought of as THE CHOSEN ONE of God shows how special the church is to God. How much she means to Him! And John says, “and to her children…” obviously, to those who make up the church. To you and to me! Let’s continue reading…)
1 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.
(if you are doing your under-lining, you are noticing that we see our key words over and over again. Love. Truth. Jesus. And this is sort of John’s standard greeting in his letter. But if you’re not careful, you’ll miss it! In fact, what will help you is this: Remember last week, we answered the question WHAT IS TRUTH? And I told you that truth is that which is certain and reliable. Jesus Himself calls himself TRUTH. If you missed the video last week with the red balloon, I may show it to you again when we come to 1st John in a few weeks. We will see. But what John is doing is showing what they all have in common…and what they have is a COMMON TRUTH…and a COMMON LOVE.
His name is Jesus Christ! Let’s keep reading…verse 4)
4 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.
7 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. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 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.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
12 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.
13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.
INTRODUCTION ILLUSTRATION: Walking. I recently had to renew my driver’s license. And I had to take the written test. On the test is a section where you must identify traffic signs.
See if you can identify these signs…
See if you can identify this one last sign:
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING. It means that there are people walking! Maybe this should be posted on our church doors. PEOPLE WALKING! We are a people who are walking!
Walking always serves a purpose. The forward motion gets you from point A to point B to fulfill a purpose. Whether you are walking to the fridge, or to the involved in a 5k walk to help fight cancer…WALKING ALWAYS SERVES A PURPOSE!
What an appropriate description of the Christian life. It’s a walk. The purpose of which to get from point A (earth) to be point B (heaven). And while we are walking - we are growing. We are maturing. We are moving! Today’s sermon title is: “Walk This Way”
The heart of the sermon today comes from verses 4-6. Within these 3 verses, is the purpose of John’s letter. It’s the WHY for which he is writing.
And in these three verses,
T.S.: John describes 3 directions in which we are to walk…
I want to re-read verses 4-6. This time, underline the word WALK.
2nd John 4-6
4 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.
I want to start off with a question: How’s your walk? Smooth? Fast? Slow? Crippled? Maybe you’re using a crutch.
If that’s the case, it’s because you are not…
WALKING IN TRUTH!
First direction to walk toward…
(I. Walk in Truth)
I am not going to spend a lot of time talking about this as we spent an entire sermon last week talking about walking in TRUTH. But if you are struggling in your faith…if you are stagnant and not moving in truth - if you merely have a belief about God and not a POWER FILLED FAITH - it’s time you started to walk in truth!
ILLUSTRATION: The light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.
The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming
in frustration, as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her
to exit her car with her hands up..
He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.
After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the
door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting
officer was waiting with her personal effects.
He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your
car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you
and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do'
bumper sticker, the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish
emblem on the trunk, so naturally....I assumed you had stolen the car.."
Now we laugh at that, but I remind you: CONSISTENCY is the test for truth.
Is your life consistent with what you believe? You decide:
You’re out with friends for dinner and they suggest you take in a late movie together. You hear the title of the movie and you know the content is going to make you VERY uncomfortable. What do you do? Take a stand?
Your daughter comes home from high school and tells you that a non-Christian boy has asked her out. What do you do? Make a choice!
You’re having coffee with the ladies from the neighborhood and one of the ladies responds to a question about faith with: “Oh…all religions are the same as long as you’re sincere.” And then there’s this huge silence. What are you going to do? Make a choice, take a stand.
Your son just got a new job that requires that he work on Sunday mornings and nights. He’s so excited. What are you going to do? Make a choice. Take a stand.
That’s what the Christian life is built upon. The Christian life isn’t built upon love. Love is our EXPRESSION. But our foundation is truth!
And if we lived life like we believed God was real…if we lived life according to truth - things would be different, wouldn’t they????
But as it is, Our prayers are wishy-washy - “God…if you want to…do it…if not…well it’s ok…”
Our worship falls flat - We sing the national anthem with more meaning than we do our WORSHIP SONGS!
John said in verse 4: “It has given me GREAT JOY to find some of your children walking in the truth…” Because those who walk in the truth GET IT! They recognize what God has done for them through Jesus Christ and they love him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.
There are tangible promises that you can hold onto with your hands! Promises that you can look at when times are hard.
WALK IN TRUTH!
The second direction John urges us to walk in is to
II. Walk in Love (vs. 5)
John says in verse 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.”
John says that the command to walk in love is NOT a new command. Back in
Matthew 22:36-39, Jesus is the one who first preached that your life as a follower of Jesus should be characterized with love.
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[
Let’s first talk about
A. Loving God
If you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength - what would your commitment level look like? Would you serve? Would you lead? Would you give?
God is the one who is worthy of our time, talents and money. And yet, we give those things to temporary, unworthy, un-holy things. We spend more time and money worshipping hobbies, and sports teams. Or shopping and entertainment. And it’s not wrong to do those things…but what I’m suggesting is you keep track of where your time, talent and money is spent. Jesus warned: “Wherever your treasure is…there your heart is also.” Whatever you deem valuable and worthy…THAT’S where you will find your time, talent and money being used. That’s where you will find your heart. Do you love God? Does HE have your heart?
Next, let’s talk about
B. Loving others
I could ramble on about what love looks like - but the truth is you KNOW what it means to love one another! You know what it looks like. So instead, what I want to talk about is: “What is it that keeps us from walking in love towards others?”
The answer is SELFISHNESS! Me, Myself and I. That’s why Jesus commands to love others equal to self! But often our field of vision is SO narrow isn’t it? I know a lot of the time I only am concerned with ME. MY wants. MY hurts. I’m so short sighted.
ILLUSTRATION: I want to play a song for you. That was written by Matthew West. I’ve referred to it in adult bible study…small group…and I think it’s time I just played it for you! It’s called: MY OWN LITTLE WORLD.
Matthew West - my own little world - live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoWY1Rlx_Aw
What is it that keeps us from WALKING IN LOVE? My own little world! Selfishness. Isn’t that why I don’t do what God has told me to do? “God, I would love to worship you today, but the Bears play today!“ “God, I know you’ve asked me to give money back to you, but Christmas is coming and my kids NEED the new Xbox connects”.
Isn’t my selfishness also the reason why I don’t give to people or help people in their time of need. We have no trouble buying stuff for ourselves but we give our leftovers to those who are in need. How about instead of donating all of your garage sale leftovers to charity, you fill a box with stuff you could live without and give THAT away?
That’s why I love CHRISTMAS and THANKSGIVING! For those two seasons of the year, we seem to have an easier time looking beyond our own wants and selfishness. But what if everyday were Christmas?
It’s time we look beyond our own little world all year long. How? Being thankful! Take time to look around at everything you have. Without comparing your things with those that others have, humbly consider all the gifts that God has given you!
Consider the needs of others. Look beyond your own little world. Each person you run into in any given day is dealing with the trials of life just as you are. You are not the only one who has a difficult job, a troublesome relative, or a car that doesn’t start on cold days.
Maybe our prayer should be: Dear Lord, Give me YOUR eyes, YOUR heart, YOUR desire for people! Help me to love people just as much as I love myself.
Look for ways to help others through life’s challenges and your own life will be enriched in ways that selfish pursuits could never match!
Love describes the expression of what our live should look like.
WALK IN LOVE!
Lastly, John says we are to
III. Walk in Obedience (vs. 6)
John says in verse 6:
6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.
Love is the reason behind obedience! It’s WHY you choose to obey. Because you Love God!
Let’s talk first about…
A. Obedience to God’s word
This is God’s general revelation for everyone! God’s word is revealed to everyone at all times! He wants everyone to obey his commands.
Look at these scriptures that flat out tell us to Obey God:
Deuteronomy 4:20 Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.
Deuteronomy 4:2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.
Deuteronomy 11:1 Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.
Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
John 14:15 15 “If you love me, keep my commands.” -- Jesus
John 14:23 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.”
So if we love God, we will keep HIS commands. And if we keep His commands, we remain in His love!
John 15:10
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
Those are just 6 times in the Bible where we are told to keep His commands. There are a total of 49 times where we are told to obey God’s commands.
ILLUSTRATION: buffet. I LOVE the Buffets especially at a Chinese restaurant. Because at a buffet I get variety - but I don’t put everything on my plate. I pick and choose what tastes good to my refined pallet. J
I think that sometimes we are guilty of treating God’s commands as a buffet. We follow the ones we want to follow - but if it doesn’t feel right for ME, then I don’t put that one on my plate.
God wants us to be obedient to the HIS FULL COUNSEL! Obey all of His commands!
But another area of obedience that we are called to walk is in
B. Obedience to God’s Spirit (I.e. Holy Spirit)
The Holy Spirit is the part of the trinity that we don’t feel comfortable talking about. But He IS real! He DOES exist! And I believe the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit speaks and leads every believer.
This is God’s specific revelation. The Holy Spirit may lead you to do things that are different than what He is leading me to do!
Ephesians 4:30 says: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
What does that mean? How do you “grieve the Holy Spirit”?
When you DO something that the Holy Spirit says not to do…you GRIEVE the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 4:30. Like when you know something is wrong and you do it anyway - that causes the Holy Spirit to grieve! You are not walking in Obedience to the Spirit.
1st Thessalonians 5:19 says: “Do not quench the Spirit.”
What does that mean?
When you DON’T do something the Holy Spirit DOES tell you to do - that is QUENCHING the Holy Spirit.
When the Spirit is urging you to give more money, more time, more of your worship - and you don’t…you instead play it safe…congratulations, you have just quenched the spirit. You have refused to do what the Holy Spirit is trying to lead you to do!
Think about Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. Throughout that entire situation, Philip was walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:29 - Philip was guided by the Holy Spirit to stay near the chariot where the Ethiopian was reading the scroll of Isaiah.
Walk in obedience! To God’s word. To God’s Spirit. And see what great things will be done! Those who have chosen to walk in obedience have been greatly blessed by God. Don’t miss out on His blessings because of fear, selfishness or sin. Walk in obedience.
CONCLUSION:
Walk in Truth
Walk in Love
Walk in Obedience
That’s John message to the chosen lady…the church. And that’s John’s message to Burnside Christian Church and her children. And the great thing about Walking in Truth, Walking in Love, and Walking in Obedience is that it is YOUR choice! It’s YOUR decision.
So I leave you with one final question to ponder: Which area do you need to work on?
Do you need to have a more consistent life? Do your actions match your beliefs? Are you walking in Truth?
Or maybe you need to live a life that is expressed by Love?
Or perhaps today - it’s time you start living a life more obedient to God’s word and God’s Spirit.
We come now to our time of decision…
