BECOMING A CREATURE OF HABIT
Changing our ways in 2023
3 JOHN
INTRODUCTION: THE 3RD LETTER OF JOHN IS A VERY PERSONAL LETTER BETWEEN JOHN THE APOSTLE AND GAIUS. ALTHOUGH THE NAME GAIUS IS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, WE REALLY DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM ACCEPT THAT HE WAS A DEAR/BELOVED FRIEND OF JOHN.
WHAT WE DO KNOW ABOUT HIM WAS WHAT HE WAS DOING AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.
AND IT IS IN THIS LETTER THAT WE FIND A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ON BECOMING A HABITUAL CHRISTIAN BY HOW WE DO WHAT WE DO.
TRANSITION: SO, AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR, IT IS FITTING THAT WE SEEK TO EMBRACE THE TRUTH OF THIS SHORT LETTER WITH A POWERFUL MESSAGE; NOT ONLY TO GAIUS, BUT TO US AS WELL.
I. THE FIRST HABIT –HEALTH
3 John 2 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.
a. HERE IN THIS VERSE PAUL TALKS ABOUT TWO TYPES OF HEALTH
i. PHYSICAL HEALTH
ii. SOUL/SPIRITUAL HEALTH
b. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT PHYSICAL HEALTH
i. LET’S BE HONEST RIGHT HERE, WE COULD ALL DO BETTER PHYSICALLY
1. BY THE WAY, DON’T MAKE A RESOLUTION TO DO BETTER WITH PHYSICAL HEALTH, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO OUR CALENDAR, IN A LITTLE MORE THAN 2 WEEKS YOU WILL BE DUMPING THAT RESOLUTION
2. AND IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT GYM MEMBERSHIP, TRY IT BEFORE YOU BY IT.
3. EVERY YEAR, I SEE A WHOLE NEW FLOCK OF PEOPLE IN THE GYM, MOST OF WHICH ARE GONE BY THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY AND THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY. IT WAS NOT FOR THEM, AND THEY ARE REMINDED OF THAT WITH THE MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT FOR THE FIRST YEAR
1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
ii. WHAT THE SCRIPTURE DOES TELL US IS THAT PHYSICAL TRAINING HAS SOME VALUE, OR VALUE IN THE PHYSICAL REALM
iii. IN OTHER WORDS, THE VALUE OF GOOD HEALTH HAS VALUE AS LONG AS WE ARE ON THIS PLANET.
iv. NOW AS I SHARE THIS WITH YOU, I AM KEENLY AWARE OF
1. I DO NOT POINT A FINGER AT YOU WITHOUT HAVING THREE-POINTED BACK AT ME
2. SCRIPTURE REMINDS ME THAT MY BODY AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST HAS A SPECIAL PURPOSE
1Corinthians 6:19–20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
3. THEREFORE, MY PHYSICAL CARE IS AN IMPORTANT TESTIMONY TO MY SPIRITUAL VALUE UNTIL JESUS CALLS ME HOME!
c. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT SPIRITUAL HEALTH?
i. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
1. I AM TO GET GOD’S WORD INTO MY LIFE. THE SENSE IS THAT THE WORD OF CHRIST IS TO RESIDE IN MY HOME RICHLY/ABUNDANTLY
2. HERE IS THE SENSE OF WHAT IS BEING SAID. HAVE YOU EVER GONE INTO A HOME WHERE THERE IS A THEME TO THE HOUSE? AS SOON AS YOU GO IN THERE, YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS A _____ HOUSE
ILLUSTRATION: “ALMOST” AUNT KIM AND HER HOUSE OF STRAWBERRIES
3. THE WORD OF GOD IS TO HAVE SUCH A PLACE IN MY LIFE THAT IT BRINGS THE SPIRITUAL BEST OUT OF ME
a. HELPS ME TEACH
b. HELPS ME COUNSEL
c. HELPS ME WORSHIP
d. HELPS ME BE GRATEFUL
ii. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
1. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS VERSE, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT IT LIKE AN OREO COOKIE
a. THE WAFERS ARE: THE WORD OF GOD IS USEFUL/PROFITABLE AND “THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK”
b. THE CREAMY CENTER IS EVERYTHING ELSE
2. SPIRITUAL HEALTH COMES FROM EMBRACING THE VALUE OF THE WORD OF GOD FOR EQUIPPING ME SPIRITUALLY FOR ANYTHING THAT COMES MY WAY
I COULD SHARE MORE, BUT I THINK YOU GET THE POINT
CHALLENGE: If your physical health was based on your spiritual health, would you be in the hospital right now or on your way to the cemetery? Would you be starving to death because you neglect to nourish yourself on the spiritual food of God’s Word and Bible preaching? Examine yourself. Many Christian today would find that this prayer would be a rebuke to them because they are spiritually anemic or out of gas spiritually.
II. THE SECOND HABIT – TESTIMONY
3 John 3–4 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
a. AS JOHN CONTINUES HIS LETTER TO GAIUS, THE SECOND HABIT HE IDENTIFIES IS THE TESTIMONY OF GAIUS
b. WHAT IS THE REPORT OTHERS WOULD GIVE REGARDING OUR WALK WITH THE LORD – OUR SPIRITUAL TESTIMONY THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE!
c. WALKING IN THE TRUTH
i. THIS IS THE DAILY CONDUCT OF OUR LIVES
ii. SO OFTEN WE FACE FOLKS WHO WALK IN TRUTH WHEN IT IS EITHER EASY OR BENEFICIAL AND GOES ALONG WITH OUR OWN THINKING
iii. IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE TESTIMONY OG GAIUS CAME FROM OTHERS
1. GAIUS WOULD HAVE SHOWN THEM HOSPITALITY
2. LODGING
3. MEALS
4. EVEN FINANCIAL SUPPORT
iv. IT IS ONE THING WHEN OUR ACTIONS HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OTHERS
v. IT IS QUITE ANOTHER WHEN THEY HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT THAT WE GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO TELL SOMEONE ELSE
1. THE SENSE HERE IS THAT THE FOLKS WHO CAME AND TOLD JOHN ABOUT GAIUS WERE CONSISTENTLY COMING FROM TIME TO TIME
2. GAIUS HAD A CONSISTENCY OF DOING WHAT HE DID – A CONSISTENT TESTIMONY
vi. THE ACTIVITY/TESTIMONY OF GAIUS IS A RESULT OF WALKING IN THE TRUTH.
1. WHEN GOD’S WORD GETS INTO OUR LIVES IT AFFECTS HOW WE LIVE AND INTERACT WITH OTHERS
CHALLENGE: Do you have a good spiritual report? If other Christians asked about your spiritual condition, could a good report be given about you or would it have to be said, “He is not faithful in church. She is not serving God. He is living in sin. She is a drunk. He is addicted to drugs. She is pregnant out of wedlock. He is in prison. She is rebellious and hates her parents. He is shacking up with a woman. She is suffering from depression and tried to kill herself.” The list is endless.
Your report is determined by how you live folks! Can a good report be given about you? Understand that a good report blesses and encourages other Christians in a huge way, but also realize that a poor report is burdensome.
IN A FEW MOMENTS, WE ARE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING COMMUNION.
THE SCRIPTURE ASKS US TO EXAMINE OURSELVES AND TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD SO THAT AS WE CELEBRATE THIS MEAL TOGETHER, WE DO SO WITH A CLEAN HEART, WHICH WITHOUT WOULD INVITE GOD’S JUDGMENT.
THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO SEEK GOD’S ASSISTANCE IN STARTING THE NEW YEAR WITH TWO NEW HABITS:
THE HABIT OF NEW HEALTH
THE HABIT OF NEW TESTIMONY
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