BECOMING A CREATURE OF HABIT 03
3 JOHN 1:9-11 (NIV)
9 I WROTE TO THE CHURCH, BUT DIOTREPHES, WHO LOVES TO BE FIRST, WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH US. 10 SO IF I COME, I WILL CALL ATTENTION TO WHAT HE IS DOING, GOSSIPING MALICIOUSLY ABOUT US. NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT, HE REFUSES TO WELCOME THE BROTHERS. HE ALSO STOPS THOSE WHO WANT TO DO SO AND PUTS THEM OUT OF THE CHURCH. 11 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.
PROPOSITION: NOT EVERYONE IN THE CHURCH WILL DEVELOP HABITS THAT PLEASE THE LORD; WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WE ARE NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
INTRODUCTION: AS WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES IN 3 JOHN, WE ARE NOW CONFRONTED BY A COMPLETE CHANGE OF DIRECTION. UP TO THIS POINT IN THE TEXT, JOHN HAS NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR THE GOOD HABITS AND ACTIONS RESULTING FROM THOSE HABITS THAT GAIUS HAS DEVELOPED. NOW JOHN TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO DIOTREPHES, WHO HAS NOT DEVELOPED SIMILAR HABITS, WITH HE RESULT THE HE HAS DEVELOPED NEGATIVE HABITS.
I. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT DIOTREPHES
a. LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT HIM
b. NAME ONLY APPEARS HERE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
c. HIS NAME TELLS US THAT HE CAME OUT OF THE PAGAN WORLD
i. NAME MEANS “NURTURED BY ZEUS”
d. HE HAS AN AGENDA
i. OWN AMBITIONS – LOVES TO BE FIRST
ii. HAS DISREGARDED JOHN’S PREVIOUS COMMUNICATION
iii. REBUKED BY JOHN
e. WE KNOW JOHN WROTE THE CHURCH ABOUT THIS ISSUE
i. WE DO NOT HAVE THE LETTER
ii. LETTER WAS LOST
iii. LETTER WAS INTERCEPTED BY DIOTREPHES
iv. LETTER MADE IT TO THE CHURCH AND REJECTED BY PART OF THE CHURCH
f. ACTIONS OF DIOTREPHES
i. REFUSED TO WELCOME MISSIONARIES
ii. EMBARRASSED JOHN
iii. ACTIONS WERE SHAMEFUL GIVEN THE CULTURE
g. BOTH DIOTREPHES AND GAIUS WERE MEMBERS OF THE SAME CHURCH!
AS MUCH AS JOHN WOULD COMMEND GAIUS FOR THE HABITS HE HAS DEVELOPED, HE ALSO NOW CONDEMNS THE HABITS AND ACTIONS OF DIOTREPHES.
II. THE NEGATIVE HABITS OF DIOTREPHES
a. GOSSIP -- SATAN HAS A SLICK MARKETING TRICK THAT HE SELLS TO CHRISTIANS ABOUT GOSSIP
i. IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A SITUATION WITH OTHERS AND ARE NEITHER PART OF THE PROBLEM OR PART OF THE SOLUTION, YOU ARE PROBABLY GOSSIPING.
ii. WE WOULD BETTER SPEND OUR TIME PRAYING FOR THE SITUATION THAN TALKING ABOUT IT.
iii. DON’T HIDE BEHIND PRAYER
1. THIS IS WHERE WE ARE “SHARING” THE ISSUE AS A PRAYER REQUEST, WHEN WE ARE ACTUALLY GOSSIPING
2. WE GOSSIP WHEN WE DIVULGE UNNECESSARY DETAILS IN PRAYER REQUESTS AS IF GOD NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP TO SPEED ON THE ENTIRE SITUATION.
iv. DON’T HIDE BEHIND CASUAL CONVERSATION AND QUESTIONS
1. SHARING OUR CONCERNS
ILLUSTRATION: COMING OUT OF CHURCH, MRS. SMITH ASKED HER HUSBAND, "DID YOU SEE THAT PIERCING THAT THE JOHNSON'S DAUGHTER IS PARADING AROUND WITH?"
"I DIDN'T EVEN SEE HER," ADMITTED MR. SMITH.
"AND THAT DRESS MRS. DAVIS WAS WEARING," CONTINUED MRS. SMITH, "REALLY, DON'T TELL ME YOU THINK THAT'S THE PROPER OUTFIT FOR A MOTHER OF TWO."
"I'M AFRAID I DIDN'T NOTICE THAT EITHER," SAID MR. SMITH.
"OH, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE," SNAPPED MRS. SMITH. "A LOT OF GOOD IT DOES YOU TO GO TO CHURCH."
2. VENTING TO A BROTHER OR SISTER
3. OPPS, I SHOULD NOT HAVE SAID ANYTHING, …..
v. GOSSIP CAN EVEN BE TELLING THE TRUTH.
1. WE LIKE TO THINK WE ARE IN THE CLEAR IF WE KNOW THAT THE INFORMATION IS TRUE AND WE ARE SIMPLY BEING "HONEST" AND "TELLING IT LIKE IT IS".
2. FRANK CLARK CORRECTLY STATED THAT "GOSSIP NEEDN'T BE FALSE TO BE EVIL - THERE'S A LOT OF TRUTH THAT SHOULDN'T BE.
vi. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS “BAD” HABIT?
1. "DO NOT SPREAD SLANDEROUS GOSSIP AMONG YOUR PEOPLE." LEVITICUS 19:16
2. THEY VISIT ME AS IF THEY WERE MY FRIENDS, BUT ALL THE WHILE THEY GATHER GOSSIP, AND WHEN THEY LEAVE, THEY SPREAD IT EVERYWHERE. PSALMS 41:6
3. A TROUBLEMAKER PLANTS SEEDS OF STRIFE; GOSSIP SEPARATES THE BEST OF FRIENDS. PROVERBS 16:28
4. WRITING IN ROMANS ABOUT THOSE WHO WERE REJECTING GOD, PAUL SAYS THIS, THEIR LIVES BECAME FULL OF EVERY KIND OF WICKEDNESS, SIN, GREED, HATE, ENVY, MURDER, QUARRELING, DECEPTION, MALICIOUS BEHAVIOR, AND GOSSIP. ROMANS 1:29
a. GOSSIP LINKED IN WITH MURDER
5. AND ONE MORE HERE FOR GOOD MEASURE -- FOR I AM AFRAID THAT WHEN I COME I WON'T LIKE WHAT I FIND, AND YOU WON'T LIKE MY RESPONSE. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL FIND QUARRELING, JEALOUSY, ANGER, SELFISHNESS, SLANDER, GOSSIP, ARROGANCE, AND DISORDERLY BEHAVIOR. 2 CORINTHIANS 2:20
a. THE CHURCH AT CORINTH WHICH HAD PROBLEMS WITH CARNALITY
b. PAUL WAS HOPING THEY WOULD DEAL WITH IT, BECAUSE IF HE FOUND IT WHEN HE CAME THEY WOULD NOT LIKE HIS REMEDY!
SINCE GOSSIP IS A SPIRITUAL “NO-MANS LAND” AND WE KNOW DEEP DOWN IT IS BAD, HERE IS HOW WE SHUT IT DOWN AND IN DOING SO AVOID THE HABIT OF GOSSIP
• REFUSE IT FOR WHAT IT IS. POINT OUT WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS ABOUT GOSSIP (I JUST GAVE YOU THAT).
• REBUKE IT. LET IT BE KNOWN HOW DESTRUCTIVE THIS IS. HOW IT HARMS GOD’S PEOPLE AND GOD’S PLAN FOR HIS CHURCH
• REDIRECT IT.
o FIRST BACK TO CHRIST – THEY HAVE FALLEN FOR THE TRAP OF THE FIRST LIAR, SATAN AND ARE BELIEVING A LIE ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF GOD
o SECOND BACK TO THE PERSON – IF THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SOMEONE, OR HEARD SOMETHING FROM SOMEONE ELSE ABOUT SOMEONE, THEN GO TO THAT PERSON WITH YOUR CONCERNS. STOP THE SPREAD OF GOSSIP
• RETURN TO THE PERSON GOSSIPED TO.
o HUMBLY ASK FOR FORGIVENESS
o ADMIT THE WRONG YOU HAVE DONE
o IT HELPS THEM SEE THE ERROR, SIN, AND DESTRUCTION GOSSIP BRINGS TO THE BODY OF CHRIST
III. PRIDE
a. LOVES TO BE FIRST – WIL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH US
b. PRIDE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE CHURCH SINCE THE DAYS OF JESUS
i. MATTHEW 20:20-22 (NIV) THEN THE MOTHER OF ZEBEDEE'S SONS CAME TO JESUS WITH HER SONS AND, KNEELING DOWN, ASKED A FAVOR OF HIM. 21 "WHAT IS IT YOU WANT?" HE ASKED. SHE SAID, "GRANT THAT ONE OF THESE TWO SONS OF MINE MAY SIT AT YOUR RIGHT AND THE OTHER AT YOUR LEFT IN YOUR KINGDOM." 22 "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ASKING," JESUS SAID TO THEM. "CAN YOU DRINK THE CUP I AM GOING TO DRINK?" "WE CAN," THEY ANSWERED.
ii. LUKE 9:46 (NIV) AN ARGUMENT STARTED AMONG THE DISCIPLES AS TO WHICH OF THEM WOULD BE THE GREATEST.
iii. IF IT HAPPENED WITH THOSE CLOSET TO JESUS, IT CAN HAPPEN TO US.
c. THE PRIDE OF DIOTREPHES
i. WANTED TO BE FIRST
1. REJECTED THE TEACHING OF JOHN IN HIS FIRST LETTER
2. HE REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE VISITS OF OTHERS
3. HE SOUGHT TO PUT PEOPLE OUT OF THE CHURCH WHO DID NOT THINK/ACT LIKE HIM
d. DISCERNING PRIDE IN DIOTREPHES AND MAYBE IN US
i. WHEN YOU AREN’T LEARNING FROM OTHER LEADERS. DIOTREPHES DID NOT LEARN FROM JOHN, WHO WAS AN APOSTLE
ii. WHEN YOU WANT TO SERVE NO ONE BUT WANT EVERYONE TO SERVE YOU. DIOTREPHES WANTED TO BE FIRST
iii. WHEN YOU SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE AND ALL YOU DO IS TALK ABOUT YOURSELF. JOHN TELLS US THAT DIOTREPHES WANTED TO BE FIRST
iv. WHEN YOU ARE DEFENSIVE EVERY TIME YOU ARE CRITICIZED. DIOTREPHES WAS MALICIOUS (WHAT HE SAID WAS EVIL, FALSE, AND SLANDEROUS
v. WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. DIOTREPHES WOULD NOT RECEIVE TRAVELERS
vi. WHEN YOU SEEK TO DISCREDIT OR DISENGAGE FROM OTHERS WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU, AS THOUGH YOU COULD NEVER BE WRONG. DIOTREPHES TRIED TO REMOVE THOSE FROM THE CHURCH WHO DIFFERED FROM HIM.
e. HOW TO KEEP FROM DEVELOPING THE BAD HABIT OF PRIDE
i. REMEMBER YOUR SOURCE – EVERYTHING WE HAVE COME FROM GOD. WE HAVE NOTHING TO BE PROUD ABOUT. -- 1 CORINTHIANS 4:7 (NIV) FOR WHO MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM ANYONE ELSE? WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE? AND IF YOU DID RECEIVE IT, WHY DO YOU BOAST AS THOUGH YOU DID NOT?
ii. MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR OTHERS. NONE OF US IS PERFECT -- COLOSSIANS 3:13 (NIV)
13 BEAR WITH EACH OTHER AND FORGIVE WHATEVER GRIEVANCES YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU.
iii. HONOR AND SERVE -- PHILIPPIANS 2:3 (NIV) DO NOTHING OUT OF SELFISH AMBITION OR VAIN CONCEIT, BUT IN HUMILITY CONSIDER OTHERS BETTER THAN YOURSELVES.
iv. MAKE SURE YOU ARE WALKING IN THE SPIRIT -- GALATIANS 5:25-26 (NIV) SINCE WE LIVE BY THE SPIRIT, LET US KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT. 26 LET US NOT BECOME CONCEITED, PROVOKING AND ENVYING EACH OTHER.
v. DO EVERYTHING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD -- 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 (NIV) SO WHETHER YOU EAT OR DRINK OR WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
IV. BE ENCOURAGED TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT
a. DON’T PICK UP THE BAD HABITS BUT EMBRACE THE GOOD HABITS
b. THE GOOD WE DO IS FROM GOD
c. “HAVE NOT SEEN GOD”
i. THEY DO NOT REALLY KNOW HIM
ii. OUR ACTIVITY AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST IS NOT REDEMPTIVE, BUT IT IS TO BE OBEDIENT TO HIM
d. SO, THE REASON FOR DEVELOPING THE GOOD HABITS, IS THAT THOSE GOOD HABITS SHOW OUR LORD, AND SAVIOR IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.
