Bad Testimony 

• 1^st – Being Hurtful… vs. 9-11
  • 1^st – Love being FIRST… vs. 9
    • I wrote to the church…
      • This was NOT the FIRST letter John had written to the CHURCH…
      • We do NOT know which letter John is referring to – the Gospel – I John – II John…
      • It could even be a letter that was not recorded in the Bible…
      • But he wrote to the CHURCH [ἐκκλησία] – we do NOT know which Church…
      • Presumably the CHURCH where Diotrephes was the PASTOR!
    • But Diotrephes – who loves to have the preeminence among them – does not receive us!
      • DIOTREPHES [Διοτρεφής] – ironically his name means to feed ZEUS [chief of Greek gods]
      • He would NOT read the letters from John to the CHURCH – because…
      • PREEMINENCE [φιλοπρωτεύω] – to LOVE [φίλος] to be FIRST [πρῶτος]
      • He was NOT willing to allow anyone else – like JOHN – have authority in the CHURCH…
      • Because he wanted everyone to ONLY look to him for answers!
    • Called to Jesus…
      • People would rather put their FAITH in someone they can see – then a God they cannot see…
      • It is easier to follow a MAN – then it is to follow an INVISIBLE God – Hebrews 11:1
      • But MEN – pastors – are a poor substitute for Jesus…
      • They have LIMITED resources – LIMITED knowledge – and make MISTAKES…
      • Therefore any pastor who points men to himself – LOVES to be FIRST – is to be AVOIDED…
      • Because the PURPOSE of a pastor – is to point others to JESUS!
    • Called to SERVE…
      • I Corinthians 4:1 – “Let a man so consider us as MINSTERS of Christ.”
      • MINISTER [ὑπηρέτης] – a slave on a Roman ship – rowed under the deck – hard working…
      • No one would ever see and under rower – it was a humbling POSITION – a MINISTER!
      • Sad to say the church has lost sight of that today – MINISTER has become a title…
      • Rather than working hard for God – it describes one who tells others what to do…
      • A good pastor is a MINISTER – comes early and leaves late – SERVES the people…
      • Therefore any pastor who longs to be in CHARGE – LOVES to be FIRST – is to be AVOIDED…
      • Because the PURPOSE of a pastor – is to MINISTER to the people!
      • I Peter 5:3 – “[Do not] lord over those entrusted to you!”
        
  • 2^nd – Confrontation… vs. 10
    • Therefore – if I come – I will call to mind his deeds which he does!
      • John was NOT sure if he would be able to come – he was OLD [the elder]
      • But IF he came – he would talk to DIOTREPHES about what he had DONE [ἔργον]
      • Any time you get a bunch of sinners together [even Godly ones] there will be problems…
      • There is no such thing as a perfect church – they do not exist…
      • The question is what to do if the PROBLEM is a PASTOR in the church…
      • Too often we ignore what is happening – justifying it is not our problem…
      • What we fail to recognize is that the BAD example – does affect us…
      • And we need to be involved in our church – take a stand for Jesus!
    • ACCUSING a Pastor…
      • I Timothy 3:19 – “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.”
      • When an ACCUSATION is brought against a PASTOR – it must be VERIFIED…
      • To prevent someone from making a false ACCUSATION – personal attack – or agenda… 
      • We must NOT just listen to one side – take the time to hear the whole story!
      • Proverbs 18:17 – “The first to speak… sounds right – until the cross-examination begins.”
    • CONFRONTING sin…
      • I Timothy 3:20 – “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all – that the rest also may fear.”
      • SINNING [present] – NOT talking about something in the PAST – but an ongoing action…
      • If a Pastor is VERIFIED to be living in SIN – the PRIDE of DIOTREPHES was sin…
      • We must [imperative] REBUKE them – bring light – or to expose them…
      • The reason for EXPOSING the SIN of a Pastor – is to set an example!
      • If people – see a Pastor living a compromised lifestyle – with NO consequences…
      • Then they will begin to think it is acceptable to God – follow a BAD example…
      • But the sin of a Pastor is EXPOSED – people learn to FEAR living in sin!
      • Galatians 5:9 – “A little leaven [sin] leavens the whole lump.”
      • When sin goes unchecked it encourages others to sin…
      • Just as a little mud can quickly contaminate – make all the water unclean…
      • A little SIN can quickly spread out and infect a whole family or church…
      • Therefore a Pastor is to be EXPOSED publicly – to TEACH people to FEAR sin!
  • 3^rd – Harsh words… vs. 10
    • Prating against us with malicious words! 
    • There were TWO things John would CONFRONT Diotrephes about…
    • FIRST – his PRATING and MALICIOUS words…
    • PRATING [φλυαρέω] – to make FALSE accusation by saying EVIL [πονηρός] things!
    • In the same way a short person who wants to look tall – stands next to a shorter person…
    • A pastor who wants to seem GOOD – talks BAD about other pastors!
    • One way to spot a PASTOR who LOVES to be FIRST – is because he is always attacking others…
    • Attacking their THEOLOGY – other Pastors do not teach the right things…
    • Attacking them PERSONALLY – other Pastors do not live a godly life…
    • But the ATTACKS are FALSE – they come from a SELFISH motivation – making them EVIL…
    • Because the RESULT of the ATTACKS – is division within the CHURCH!
  • 4^th – Not HOSPITABLE… vs. 10
    • Not content with that – he himself does not receive the brethren!
      • SECOND – John would CONFRONT Diotrephes about his lack of HOSPITALITY…
      • Diotrephes was NOT content to only ATTACK other pastors…
      • He also REFUSED to RECEIVE [take the hand] of other BROTHERS…
      • Meaning if you were not from HIS church – then you were not part of THE church!
      • There are PASTORS who think their CHURCH is the only CHURCH – but they are WRONG…
      • There is just ONE church – ONE body – Ephesians 4:4
      • But it is NOT a particular DENOMINATION – it is the Body of CHRIST – I Corinthians 12:12
      • God has allowed there to be many DENOMINATIONS within HIS Church…
      • Each with a slightly different FLAVOR – different FOCUS- but all with the SAME Lord…
      • The reason is so that the church can minister to all different kinds of people!
      • I Corinthians 9:22 – “All things to all men – that I might by all means save some.”
      • One person might be more comfortable in the traditions of a Traditional church…
      • Another might be blessed by the lively worship of a Pentecostal church…
      • Another might draw closer to God in a church that focused on teaching the Bible…
      • There are many churches for many different kinds of people!
    • [Diotrephes] forbids those who wish to – putting them out of the church!
      • Diotrephes added to his FAULT – by refusing to let others fellowship outside HIS church…
      • If someone was determined to fellowship OUTSIDE – they were BANISHED…
      • He refused to let them come back to HIS church [better for that person to not go back]
      • Christ is NOT divided – therefore the Church of Christ should not be divided…
      • There is only ONE Jesus – ONE cross – there is only ONE salvation – ONE heaven…
      • There is only one heaven – there are not different ROOMS for various DENOMINATIONS…
      • We are going to spend eternity together – we should start getting along now!
      • I Corinthians 12:25 – “There should be no [division] in the body… the members should have the same care one for another.”
    • It is OK to have a CHURCH…
      • There is nothing wrong with preferring a particular CHURCH…
      • The problem comes when we follow MEN – rather than having unity in JESUS…
      • We focus on our DIFFERENCES – rather than coming together as a FAMILY…
      • We make our identity a CHURCH – rather than simply CHRIST…
      • Causing division within the BODY – hindering the power of the Gospel…
      • We wonder why more people do NOT believe in Jesus – why churches are EMPTY…
      • The church of God today is not KNOWN for its unity – its KNOWN for its differences!
  • 5^th Bad Example… vs. 11
    • Beloved!
      • BELOVED [ἀγαπητός] – those who has received the unconditional LOVE of God!
      • Those who BELONG to Jesus – BELONG to HIS church!
    • Do not imitate what is evil!
      • Do NOT follow [μιμέομαι] and EVIL [κακός] EXAMPLED of Diotrephes…
      • Who LOVED to be FIRST – who ATTACKED other pastors with FALSE accusations…
      • Who caused DIVISION – refusing to have fellowship with other DENOMINATIONS!
    • [Instead follow] what is good!
      • GOOD [ἀγαθός] – refers to our HEART – or morals…
      • In other words do NOT follow MAN – FOLLOW the conviction that comes from the LORD!
      • We KNOW the CONVICTION John is talking about…
      • The CHECK we have in our SPIRIT when a PASTOR says something WRONG…
      • We might be tempted to IGNORE it – thinking the PASTOR knows better – but we need to…
      • Acts 17:11 – “[Search] the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things [are] so.”
        
    • He who does good is of God – but he who does evil has not seen God!
      • THE [ὁ] doing GOOD [ἀγαθοποιέω] is of GOD…
      • Meaning the CHECK we have from the SPIRIT – is GOD speaking to our HEART…
      • And if we do not have the CHECK – if we FOLLOW the EVIL [κακοποιέω] example of MEN…
      • Men like Diotrephes – it shows we have not SEEN [know] God!
      • If GOD is in our HEART – He is going to give us a GOOD example to follow…
      • The EXAMPLE: NOT love to be first – NOT attack other pastors falsely…
      • NOT cause division in the body by refusing fellowship with other denominations…
      • Because we are to have HOSPITALITY – UNITY – LOVE in the BODY of CHRIST!
      • John 13:35 – “All will know that you are My disciples – if you have love for one another.”

• 2^nd – Redemption… vs. 12
  • 1^st – The TESTIMONY…
    • Demetrius has a good testimony from all!
      • DEMETRIUS – the name only appears THREE times in the Bible…
      • He was a RICH idol maker in the city of Ephesus – Acts 19:24
      • Ephesus was known for the Temple of DIANA – SEVEN wonders of the ancient world…
      • People traveled from all over the world to worship there – and they bought IDOLS…
      • But the GOSPEL had been so effective – people stopped buying IDOLS – Acts 19:26-27
      • So DEMETRIUS stirred up a RIOT – 25 thousand people crying out – great is DIANA!
    • Is this the same DEMETRIUS…
      • There is NOTHING to say this is the same person…
      • But John did Pastor in the city of Ephesus – where DEMETRIUS was from…
      • It would be just like God – to take one of Christianity greatest ENEMIES…
      • A man who once caused DIVISION – by making false ACCUSATIONS against a PASTOR [Paul]
      • Because he did not like being SECOND to the Gospel – he LOVED being FIRST…
      • And turn around and make him someone who had a TESTIMONY [μαρτυρέω]!
      • Meaning there is HOPE for ANYONE to repent and come to Jesus…
      • It does not matter whether we think we are a GOOD person – or BAD…
      • Jesus gift of salvation is available to EVERYONE who will receive it…
      • No sinner is beyond His reach – no sin so great He cannot forgive it!
      • Romans 5:20 – “Where sin abounded – GRACE abounded much more.”
  • 2^nd – The WITNESSES…
    • From the truth itself!
      • The WITNESS of DEMETRIUS – was seen by EVERYONE [πᾶς]
      • That INCLUDED from THE Truth [τῆς ἀληθείας] – referring to Jesus – John 14:6
      • This is the MOST important WITNESS – because Jesus sees the HEART – Hebrews 4:13
      • And having a good WITNESS – means we are changed from the INSIDE out!
      • Christianity is NOT about following RULES – that just changes the OUTSIDE…
      • It is about KNOWING Jesus – which TRANSFORMS us on the INSIDE!
      • II Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ – he is a new creation. Old things have passed away – behold all things have become new.”
    • And we also bear witness!
      • The WITNESS of DEMETRIUS – also included PASTORS…
      • John includes himself [we] – but also alludes to other church leaders!
      • PASTORS are there to PROTECT the CHURCH – I Peter 5:2-3
      • Therefore they watch out for those who just SAY that have a TESTIMONY…
      • They OBSERVE – and make sure they are not wolves in sheep clothing – Matthew 7:15
    • And you know that our testimony is true!
      • The WITNESS of DEMETRIUS – also included the CHURCH…
      • Because the whole CHURCH could SEE [εἴδω] it was true that DEMETRIUS had changed!
      • Luke 6:27 – “Judge not – and you shall not be judged…”
      • I have heard people say you CANNOT judge me – only God can judge me…
      • And to some extent I think I understand what they mean – but they are WRONG!
      • We CANNOT judge why someone does something – what their MOTIVE is…
      • Because only God knows the motive of the heart – Psalm 44:21
      • But we absolutely can JUDGE the actions of someone – by comparing them to the Word…
      • And when we SEE [εἴδω] a CHANGED life – it is PROOF that person has a good TESTIMONY! 

• 3^rd – Final greeting… vs. 13-14
  • 1^st – Face to face… vs. 13-14
    • I had many things to write – but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink!
      • This was NOT the only thing John had wanted to WRITE about…
      • There were LOTS [πολύς] of other subjects he had desired to go over…
      • But he did not want to do it with – INK and STICK [describing old pens]
      • We do NOT use INK and STICKS anymore – we tent to use cell phone and computer…
      • But I can relate to John – they are NOT the best way to communicate…
      • EMAILS and TEXT lack emotion – intonation – and facial expression…
      • They are OK for basic information – but they are no substitute for FELLOWSHIP!
    • I hope to see you shortly – and we shall speak face to face!
      • John HOPED [ἐλπίζω] to come and SEE them soon – and speak MOUTH to MOUTH…
      • To have GOOD fellowship by TALKING with each other!
      • There are those who argue – CHURCH in not necessary…
      • We can read our Bibles – worship – without other believers!
      • Going to CHURCH does not save us – but it does keep us from following BAD examples…
      • God calls us to FELLOWSHIP with one another in CHURCH – with different CHURCHES…
      • So we help keep each other in check – keep each other accountable to God!
      • Hebrews 10:25 – “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together –  as is the manner of some – but exhorting one another – and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
  • 2^nd – Peace to you… vs. 14
    • Peace to you!
      • What would John SAY – when he saw the church in person – PEACE [ἰρήνη] to you…
      • Notice – John does NOT come proclaiming himself – he came declaring PEACE…
      • Who is our PEACE – it is Jesus – who is the HEAD of the CHURCH!
      • Ephesians 2:14 – “[Jesus] Himself is our peace [ἰρήνη].”
    • Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name!
      • John finishes by saying – LOVE [φίλος] greets us – to warmly take our hand…
      • And we should greet each other in LOVE [φίλος] – by NAME!
      • Because when we have PEACE – Jesus – we will have LOVE [φίλος] for each other…
      • And when we are HOSPITABLE – we will have a GOOD testimony…
      • A CHURCH united in LOVE – so the world around us SEE Jesus in us!