Walking In Love

 

 

 

"¹ The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

² Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. ³ For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. ⁵ Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; ⁶ and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. ⁷ For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸ Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth. ⁹ I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. ¹⁰ For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church. ¹¹ Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. ¹² Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. ¹³ I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; ¹⁴ but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face. ¹⁵ Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name. 

III John 1:1-15

 

Good Morning my beloved,

 

We welcome you to worship in the name of the Lord. Thank you for joining us today, we're glad to have you here. We are grateful for those of you who have been sharing the ministry website with all of your family and friends. Your faithfulness to share God's Word with others continues to bring about tremendous results.  May He continue to use this ministry mightily to effect change in even more lives. 

 

 

Church leaders are those who are chosen to lead people to Jesus Christ. I believe that means that how leaders live and behave is of great importance. I have heard it said more than once, "What I do on my own time is my own business." Not if you are chosen to be a church leader. I believe that most everyone would agree that leadership within any church is a critical issue. 

 

I believe that as a church leader, ones behavior often determines the growth of believers and whether or not the church has a dynamic ministry for Jesus Christ. It is our Lord's Church and as His servant and steward we lead others by following His precepts. We lead by pointing to Christ our Savior and Lord. Leaders, then, influence others. We are responsible for equipping, training, feeding, inspiring, cultivating, comforting, correcting protecting and worshiping.

 

I believe it is then, imperative that leaders be held accountable, to model it and teach it! When we are not, we will certainly fail! As Christians, we must allow the search and conviction of the Holy Spirit upon our lives to the very core of our souls. And in so doing, we must allow others who are mature in the faith, to help us in this call. I believe the result will be far less people falling in sin and pride. This is important, because we are all fallen creature, saved by grace.

 

As a community of Christians, we are responsible to show the world the way of God's truth by modeling His character, to an unbelieving world. Those who are not held accountable are the ones who fall and bring shame upon our Lord, and present a bad reputation in the Church and world! Unfortunately, many of us have become comfortable with where we are in regard to our spiritual life, if we don’t take responsibility for our growth, it won’t happen. Spiritual growth is not automatic. If we are going to grow spiritually, we must be deliberate, intentional, with the goal of growing in faith and obedience.

 

Let us pray

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Father, we again thank You for Your Word. We thank You for this practical truth, which is so foundational to the life of the church. Thank You for these precious souls You have chosen to gather together with us today. Fill each of our our hearts with a greater love and a greater passion for the truth. Call us to a greater faithfulness and a greater desire to serve You and others.

 

We hate to think that there are always people in the church who intend to do harm to Your faithful servants. Lord, we pray that You would protect us from them. Help us to spread the gospel through our love for the truth and our sacrificial love for others who are in need. Keep us faithful to this end.

In Christ's name we ask and pray

Amen

 

Today's Message: Walking In Love

 

Open with me your Bibles to III John. This third epistle of John, is the last of his epistles, it is, I believe, a wonderful epistle. It is very personal. In fact, it is John's most personal letter. Again, the emphasis here on the truth, because John loves the truth. John has been affirming the importance of bearing witness to truth, of walking in truth, of being fellow workers with the truth, of receiving a good testimony from the truth.  At the very foundation of the church, is the truth.

 

First John was written to the whole church, in which he provided a series of tests, tests as to how believers could test the validity of their faith, how they could be sure they were saved. It was very general, written to all believers.

 

 In his second epistle, John narrowed down the audience to the chosen lady and her children. It was written to a family, a family within the church. He calls for families to be loyal to the truth.

 

In this, his third epistle, John is writing to an individual, to the beloved Gaius. Here, John calls for individuals to be loyal to the truth. In both II John and III John, truth and love are always related. It is significant to note, then, for the first time in his epistles, John names actual people, Gaius, Diotrephes, Demetrius. 

 

John, starting on the broadest scale in his first epistle, written to all believers, then he narrows it down to a family and then to a man. However, the themes are always the same, truth and love. John was the last living apostle, he was the overseer of the church, and though they aren’t many years from the very life of Christ, he is the eyewitness to all of the events of the life of Christ. Though he is a pastor of pastors, the last of the apostles, he has to deal with people in the church who make life in the church difficult. 

 

If you will remember, he has been dealing with those who were too loving, too embracing, some too harsh, too narrow, to unkind, and in the second epistle, he dealt with the one who was too inclusive and too embracing and too tender-hearted and too compassionate, too hospitable, threatened to open the arms of the church, and let antichrist in. When you try to build a ministry founded on the truth, that’s what you struggle with in the church.

 

Now, however, he’s going to deal with one who is the very opposite.Because, generally speaking, most Christians are compassionate people, there is always those who want to open the door wider than it should be,  letting in people that shouldn’t be let in. Then, there are those of us who always want to make sure we’re standing  near the door, closing it when it needs to be closed. We’re the ones who are the bad guys, who are accused of being unkind and unloving. 

 

Because we are called to love, there’s always the temptation by those who are committed to that love to be too embracing. On the other hand, there is always the temptation by those who are so strongly committed to doctrine to be too narrow. It is important then, we must come to a balance. As a pastor, there are at least these two extremes that we have to deal with.

 

I invite you to follow along with me as I read to the entire chapter, its not often that I have the opportunity to read an entire book of the Bible, but I want to set the flow of the text in our minds, as we prepare our hearts for what the Spirit is saying to each of us. I have no idea just how far we will get in our study, so we'll leave that up to the Lord. So, listen for the voice of our Lord. III John 1:1-15.

 

"The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth. I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name."
 

 

It is significant to point out, that there are a number of men named Gaius in the New Testament. There is Gaius of Corinth, who was the host of Paul in the church in Corinth. There was Gaius of Macedonia, who was one of Paul’s companions who suffered in the riot at Ephesus. And then there was Gaius of a town called Derbe, who traveled with Paul on his last missionary tour. None of these are the Gaius who is being addressed here. Since Gaius was a very common name and there’s no way to particularly  identify this man to whom John is writing. 

 

Apparently, he was an important man in the church, he was leader in the church. He was obviously highly respected and beloved, by all who knew him. That’s why he is addressed this way, it identifies his familiar character. He was not only loved by the community, but he was loved by God. He was the beloved Gaius.

 

Verse 1, "The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth." John uses the word "agapétos," from the word agapaō, which is the noblest kind of love. All those who are Christ’s are both chosen and beloved. While John certainly may be speaking of his character, he also identifies him as a saint, as a believer, as beloved. He was loved by John because he immediately adds to verse 1, "Whom I love," and then he qualifies it by saying "in truth." That is to say, that the truth is the sphere in which our Christian love exists.  

 

I can personally attest to that, because when someone comes into my life, who has the same passion and devotion to the truth, as I do, I am immediately drawn to them, I am concerned for their well-being. I desire their fellowship. However, if someone comes into my life, who does not affirm and hold to the truth of the gospel, who deviates from the truth, try as I may, there is something that just pushes me away from them. If people love the truth, there is an immediate bond, no matter where I go. Truth and love are inseparable. Christian love is built upon the truth. 

As Christians, we are called to love all people, in an evangelistic sort of way, meaning that we are to love them in the sense that we care about their souls the way God loves the world. That's not what we're talking about here, we're talking about a unique love, a family love that is shared among Christians.

 

Many Christians have made a deal with the devil. Trying to bring about reconciliation between Christ's church and those who believe in a different god, as if they worship the same God. They have abandoned the truth! The god of Islam is not the God of the Bible, I want to be very clear about that. Abba and Allah are two very different. The god of Islam is Satan. The God of the Bible is the One true living God.

 

Now, I realize that in saying that, I’ll be accused of being unkind and unloving. And that's fine with me. Because I am called to speak the truth in love, I don't rejoice in that, my heart literally grieves for those who are believing in a false god. I want nothing more than for them to come to the true God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The Apostle John also loved in the truth. And, he sets that tone at the very beginning of this letter, "whom I love in truth."  

 

Then, in verse 2, John is expressing his concern. "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." What a great way to begin a letter, first he called him beloved, then he says who I love in truth, now he expresses concern for his well-being. What a wonderful sentiment. As a footnote, that statement, "that you may prosper and be in good health," is typical, found in many of the ancient letters. It was a well wishing, I love that. It a gracious concern for one's well-being. I believe we had ought to have more of that in the church today.

 

John is saying that he wants the physical health of Gaius to match his spiritual well-being. This is really a great insight into the life of Gaius, he has a successful spiritual life. Today, we often that the physical health of someone would be good, but how often do we pray for their spiritual health? John had obviously heard that Gaius spiritual life was flourishing, and he wishes the same blessing for his physical life. That tells me that God is concerned with both our physical and spiritual health. I mean, if you’re going to be engaged in an effective ministry, you have got to take care of yourself. 

 

In Biblical times, the water was very dangerous to dink, they didn’t really have any way to purify the water in those days. I imagine that every imaginable bacteria lived in the water. One of the things that they did in order to prevent the kinds of things that came from bad water was to mix it with wine. Wine that was fermented becomes alcohol, and alcohol mixed with water purifies the water. The difference between wine and strong drink, was it was undiluted. If all you could drink all day was ferment wine, you’d surely be drunk in an hour. So it was diluted wine, sometimes as much as eight to one.

 

In I Timothy chapter 5, Paul, being concerned about Timothy health, instructed him to "No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments."

 

In the Old Testament, God gave the people of Israel laws telling them how to eat, what not to eat, in order not to expose themselves to diseases. God has given us, then, a wonderful opportunity to gain a measure of health by what we eat. 

 

In verse 3, John says "For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth." John gives Gaius a commendation.  Some traveling preachers had come to where Gaius was and he had opened his home to these traveling preachers, traveling proclaimers of the gospel. And he had showed them hospitality and taken them in. Apparently, this wasn't easy, because there was a man in the church who tried to prevent it. His name was Diotrephes. In spite of that, Gaius had treated them with love.

 

Its interesting to note here, that John does not commend Gaius for his love, rather he commends him for the truth. Those who showed hospitality to those who were faithful to the truth knew that you were faithful to it as well. In other words, because you knew the truth and you’re committed to the truth, you were not restrained by the narrowness of Diotrephes, you did what was right. Walking in truth is far more than just doctrine, it means you live by the truth. You live the truth. 

 

I believe that this is literally the best commendation that a Christian could ever receive. You live by the truth. This is what we want to hear when we get to heaven, when the Lord says, "Well done, good and faithful servant." He's saying that you've been faithful to the truth. I mean, its one thing to know the truth, its quite another to actually live by it. To literally walk it out in our lives. When you possess the truth, and you walk in the truth, the truth controls your life. 

 

That's why John adds in verse 4, "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth."

 

Christian parents should be able to identify with this. To be able to say about their children, that their greatest joy is to hear that their children are walking in the truth. Our main prayer for our children and for every Christian should be that they have prosperous souls. Unfortunately, many Christians have fallen for unbiblical teaching. They have been taught to believe  that God’s will for all of His children to be healthy and wealthy. Ignoring the fact that Jesus Himself, as well as the Apostles were poor, and persecuted. These false teachers brazenly appeal to the greed and selfishness of their spiritually naïve audiences.

 

Paul tells us in I Timothy 6, " But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." I believe that it’s very dangerous when a Christian’s material prosperity gets placed ahead of his spiritual prosperity. 

 

So, John is saying if you walk in the truth, you're going to love in the truth. Whether you’re talking about my physical children or my spiritual children, anybody who’s been a part of the ministry that God has given to me, anyone who knows me well, knows there is no higher joy, no greater joy than to know you know the truth, that you believe the truth, and that you are walking in the truth. It literally overwhelms my heart with joy. Because if you're in the ministry, that’s what you’re after. It's every true ministers dream, to know that those they have been instructing in the truth, are walking in the truth. 

My greatest joy in the ministry is not just to teach the truth, though that is a great honor and a privilege, one that brings me great joy. Those of us in ministry spend a great deal of time grieving over those who don’t walk in the truth, perhaps I should speak for myself here. In other words, if you truly want to keep this preacher happy, know the truth, believe in the truth and walk in the truth and that will make me ecstatic.

In verse 5, "Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers." 

Gaius didn’t accidentally stumble onto the path called "truth" and just as accidentally stay on it. It
requires deliberate effort and purpose, it means to both understand the truth and to walk in it. How a person thinks about God, his fellow man, his salvation, and life determines how that person lives. That's why Satan works overtime trying to undermine the truth! 

 

However, there is an inherent danger in knowing the truth. If Satan can’t prevent us from knowing the truth,  he then tries to get us puffed up with pride over how much we think we know. That's why its so important that we remain humble, acting faithfully in whatever we seek to accomplish for the Lord. 

 

That's what binds us together, because they’re loyal to the truth, you embrace them. Verse 6, "And they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God."  Here comes the commendation of love, but notice the love is within the framework of the truth. Because if you’re committed to the truth, then you express divine, godly love. True Christian love is the product of the perfect union of the truth and love.

 

So, John is saying that Gaius acted faithfully in whatever he could do for them, even though they were strangers to him. And they told the whole church about his love for them. Then, John offers some counsel as well as some commendation at the end of verse 6, "You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God."  

 

In other words, you’re not done yet because when they leave you, they’re going to need some support. 

You've acted faithfully in whatever you've done for the brethren, even though they were strangers, you’ve done absolutely everything you could do, and they gave testimony to that keep up the good work. But you're not done yet. 

By the way, "You will do well," is an idiom equivalent to the English word "please." These are missionaries, so please, when you send them on their way, give them the support they need. Give them all that is required to send them on their way to accomplish their next objective. This is why churches support missionaries. They are literally going everywhere, proclaiming the gospel, planting churches, strengthening churches. They need the support of the churches to continue this very important mission. This was a very real part of the early church. And, I believe that it should be today as well. So basically, John is saying "Treat them the way you think that God would treat them."

 

Allow me to remind you of Jesus' words in Matthew chapter 10, "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

 

The way you treat a missionary is going to determine your eternal reward. By supporting them, you are going to share in their eternal reward. So send them on their way in a manner worthy of God!

 

Verse 7, "For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles."

 

They went out for the name which is above every name, the name Lord. If you can't support that, what can you support?  That's why we evangelize, for the sake of the name, for the glory of God, not just for the sake of the sinner. For the honor of God. Because He’s worthy to be loved, worthy to be praised and worthy to be honored and worthy to be confessed as Lord. We do it all for the Name of the Lord Jesus and all that He is. 

 

Notice John says "accepting nothing from Gentiles," the world will support its own, but unbelievers are never going to support the true preachers of the gospel. Theses missionaries were not receiving donations from the unbelievers whom they were seeking to reach. So by supporting God's people, we become fellow workers with the truth of the gospel that they proclaim. The prosperous soul walks in the truth and in love.

 

In Closing..

 

You know something about false teachers, they literally take money from everybody they can find. They're out for their own sake. Do you ever recall Jesus or the true Apostles of Christ ever taking money for preaching the gospel?  In fact, in II Corinthians 11:9, Paul said "when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so." The true preacher of the gospel doesn't want money from the world. They do it for the glory and honor of Christ.

 

We don't take money from pagans or heathens. However, that doesn't mean we aren't in need of support. John makes that clear in verse 8, "Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth." If we who know the truth, who believe the truth, who are walking in the truth won't support those who proclaim the gospel, who will? 

Not all of us are gifted to preach the gospel, but we can all give something to support those who do. We are called to support those who are faithful to truth, who are proclaiming the Word of God to the world.
This is what it means to live in love and to walk in truth.

 

May it be so..

 

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen

 

 

 

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