A Good Testimony
Book of 3 John Verse
1-14
The most important
thing we can have after our salvation is, having the testimony of
Jesus Christ!
The next most
important thing is, that we and all Christians work together in the
name of Jesus Christ!
We do this by being
obedient to our Lord and Savior!
Mat 28:19 Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
If we cannot be the
legs and arms to do these things Jesus asked us to do, then we have
to be the pocketbook and the prayer warriors.
We all have a job in
this salvation plan of God!
We will do this
thing by allowing the Holy Spirit to have complete control of our
being!
We will see in this
small book of the Bible that John was writing to a faithful witness
of the early Church.
Remember John always
writes to the Church and this time John gets personal and writes to
the servants of the Lord Jesus.
This brother in
Christ called Gaius is to be an example to all believers!
We do not know
anything about this man Gaius, because all we need to know about this
brother in Christ is, that he had a good testimony!
What do we know
about this period of Church history? All the Apostles were dead, but
John, and John was near 100 years old and would not be alive much
longer and the followers of Satan saw this time as the greatest time
to attack the Church and to wipe out the Christian Church and all her
followers.
We can see that the
world did not yet understand the power of God and the Church is still
standing for some 1900 plus years and will stand until the Lord comes
to retrieve His Church!
No doubt that this
man Gaius was being watched by the Apostle John so the Holy Spirit
directed John to give us these words.
*****3Jn 1:1 The
elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
In these first words
we can see that Gaius was "well beloved". No doubt that he
was loved by the Church and maybe more than one Church as it will
appear that Gaius may have been an evangelist, traveling from one
place to another.
John's intent or the
Holy Ghost's intent here, is that Gaius was well beloved of our
Heavenly Father.
We might ask why,
but we will see that Gaius was walking in the image of Jesus Christ.
This man had a good testimony!
We must understand
that we cannot have a testimony until we have been tested by the
commandments of God!
The Bible is a
"Testimony" of the sovereign will of Jehovah, God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
The "Gospel"
is the special witness of the testimony of the riches of God's
"Grace" in Christ Jesus to the Church and to all people.
What is to be the
testimony of each Christian?
Psa 119:1 Blessed
are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Psa 119:2 Blessed
are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole
heart.
Psa 119:3 They also
do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Psa 119:4 Thou hast
commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
Psa 119:5 O that my
ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Psa 119:6 Then
shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy
commandments.
Psa 119:7 I will
praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy
righteous judgments.
Psa 119:8 I will
keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Psa 119:9
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto
according to thy word.
Psa 119:10 With my
whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy
commandments.
Psa 119:11 Thy word
have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa 119:12 Blessed
art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
This must be the
basis for our Testimony
In fact this entire
119nth Psalm should be the testimony of each Christian!
When this is our own
"testimony" we will prosper here on earth and our soul will
prosper throughout eternity!
*****3Jn 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in
health, even as thy soul prospereth.
To have a personal
relationship with our Heavenly Father and His Son, through the Holy
Spirit, is to know how wonderful our future will be.
At the same time,
knowing about our precious future gives us the ability to make the
right choices in this life.
The most important
choice was that choice to have a personal relationship with the Lord
Jesus Christ!
Gaius was such a man
who loved the Lord. Gaius had accepted the call of the Lord. Gaius
was the beloved of the Lord, in fact the well beloved of the Lord and
we will be to when we have a good testimony!
What did Jesus say
to us all?
Joh 14:15 If ye
love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:23 Jesus
answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him.
It seems that Gaius
was struggling with his health at this time and John did as we all
should do he was being an encourager and also a prayer warrior for
his brother in Christ.
Sometimes we need to
be reminded of how much our soul will prosper throughout eternity
even while in this life we are suffering just like all others suffer
with different ailments that are common to all humans.
Gods care and God's
guidance would always be a part of his life!
God's love would
never diminish!
The reality of his
salvation would always be with him!
As prayer warriors
we should all pray that our brothers and sisters in Christ to prosper
as well in this life and they will in their eternal life.
We should pray for
their good health, for the longer we serve the Lord the more
opportunities there will be for us to earn rewards.
We should not just
pray for those we know but for every child of God to live long and
prosperous lives, while still standing firm on the promises of God
and the truth of God.
True peace in this
life can come only by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Tit 3:8 This is a
faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly,
that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain
good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
We can only prosper
in Heaven if we serve the Lord Jesus Christ in this life.
This is the truth of
God!
*****3Jn 1:3 For I
rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth
that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
What is the truth?
When we have a strong testimony for the Lord it will show!
Gaius walked in the
truth of the Lord Jesus Christ and it was noticeable.
Gaius walked in the
truth of all the Word of God and it was noticeable.
John had spent much
time in his books teaching us about false teachers, but Gaius was a
teacher of the truth and it was noticeable.
Those that heard him
preach, knew they were receiving the truth!
Gaius took his stand
on the truth of God even in places where false teaching was
happening.
Today when we hear
false teachers and false Christians stand up and try to teach us what
"thus sayeth the Lord", we must not sit idle and do
nothing.
Gaius took his stand
for the truth and other Christians saw him take a stand for the
truth.
We already know that
much false teaching was taking place as the world was trying to
destroy the early church as all the Apostles had been murdered but
the Apostle John.
Gaius stood on the
truth of God as taught by the Apostles. Some called it the Apostles
Doctrine, which was of course the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, according
to the truth of all the Word of God!
So where do we begin
in the truth?
Joh 14:6 Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had
known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye
know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:9 Jesus
saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou
not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and
how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh 14:10 Believest
thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words
that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that
dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Joh 14:11 Believe
me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me
for the very works' sake.
Without the truth of
our Savior, we will never have a relationship with God the Father!
As far as the
Apostle John was concerned there is no greater truth anywhere!
*****3Jn 1:4 I have
no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
It is probable that
John had led Gaius to the Lord.
Gaius had been
taught the truth and Gaius had remained in the truth and had actually
grown in the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Today I do not doubt
that many know the truth of God, but it is obvious that the Church
has become silent!
Those who take the
Word of God and twist it into a lie are many, and yet the Church
remains silent.
There are not many
like Gaius today to stand for the truth and other Christians notice
his stand.
What does God say?
Eph 6:10 Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
When are we going to
stand with Gaius?
*****3Jn 1:5
Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren,
and to strangers;
3Jn 1:6 Which have
borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring
forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
3Jn 1:7 Because
that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the
Gentiles.
1) We must be loyal
to the all the truth of God. We cannot pick and choose which parts of
God's Word we will use, and we will not use!
2Pe 1:19 We have
also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take
heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day
dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing
this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God
spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2) We must be loyal
to our duty of serving the Lord.
It is our duty to
obey our Lord and our King!
Joh 14:15 If ye
love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:21 He that
hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and
he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him,
and will manifest myself to him.
3) We must be loyal
to the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!
Mat 28:18 And Jesus
came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
4) We must do all
these things remembering the love God had shown to us!
Mat 22:37 Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is
the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the
second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these
two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
We must serve God
better today than we did yesterday and this must be our goal every
morning as we awaken to a new day!
We go out every day
doing the best we can, not for our own praise, but for the praise of
God!
We must ask
ourselves daily are the things we do worthy of us or are they
acceptable to God!
We must ask
ourselves are we seeking our own glory or are we seeking the glory of
God!
Gaius helped
believers but he also helped total strangers.
Gaius was an
evangelist at a time when evangelists were not welcomed in most
churches.
It’s not hard to
see that Gaius preached the truth and just as today the truth is not
preached in many churches and Gaius would not be welcomed.
In fact Jesus Christ
would not be welcomed in the Church of today!
We are never to fear
the truth of God in fact, we had better fear those who twist the Word
of God into a false message that can rob us of the salvation plan of
God!
What do we know of
our Lord? We know that He would never stay in one place, but He would
travel from place to place.
We all have a place
in the work God has given us to do!
Eph 4:10 He that
descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens,
that he might fill all things.)
Eph 4:11 And he
gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and
some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:
When we know our
calling, then we need to be busy in our calling!
The Church is to
serve in the name of Jesus Christ.
These Evangelists
are to serve in the name of Jesus.
These Missionaries
are to serve in the name of Jesus.
Gaius served in the
name of Jesus Christ the only Savior!
We must all remember
it is not about money. If the Church would just obey the truth of God
money would never be an obstacle!
We are to contribute
ourselves! This what we do when we give our tithe and offerings!
We must all know
that we are to be fellow helpers of the truth!
This man Gaius is an
example for us in all these things and the Holy Spirit gave this
example for to the Apostle John.
Gaius was a living
example of a true Christian!
As Gaius traveled
from church to church, it was the church that should have provided
his support.
Monies given by
non-Christians usually come with a cost, or a request to go against
the Word of God!
This is the biggest
reason the church has moved away from the truth.
The Church has been
swayed by money given that allows that giver to have his or her way
in the Church.
This not the way
Church is to operate!
What does God say?
Luk_16:13 No
servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and
love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
If the truth of the
Gospel offends some in the church, then so be it. We must not veer
from the truth of God!
*****3Jn 1:8 We
therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to
the truth.
We become fellow
helpers of the truth, when we yield ourselves to the influence of the
truth!
Gaius was doing all
he could to help traveling missionaries and evangelists and as he
traveled himself, this was his message!
When we do not have
that little extra that could help some missionary then we certainly
need to offer some prayer time for that ministry remembering, we need
to live the "Gospel" so that our prayers reach into Heaven.
If we are partakers
of the "Grace" of God, then certainly we need to share that
"Grace" with all others!
The truth is a
precious treasure that we must not try to keep to ourselves! The
truth is to be shared!
The truth of Jehovah
God is all the truth we need, and this truth will never change!
The Gospel is taught
of God to be shared:
Joh_6:45 It is
written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every
man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh
unto me.
The Love of God is
taught of God to be shared:
1Th 4:9 But as
touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye
yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
John now changes
gears and tells us someone in the Church who is not a good example to
follow.
*****3Jn 1:9 I
wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the
preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
3Jn 1:10 Wherefore,
if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against
us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he
himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and
casteth them out of the church.
One of the greatest
problems in our churches today is, church leaders who divide the
church.
These are those who
change the Word of God into a lie.
If we all practiced
the truth of God, the Church would never be divided!
These are those who
twist the Word of God into something that becomes false.
A divisive leader
will gather those around him who follow him, and reek havoc, on
those, who try to remain in the truth of God.
We see today that
many denominations have allowed divisive leaders to come out on top!
Diotrephes refused
to recognize the Apostle John as the Elder of the Church, and thought
of himself as the true leader of the Church.
He refused to honor
the truth of God! So much so, that even in his old age the Apostle
John would travel to the location of this man to set him straight.
We do not see much
of this anymore.
The Church has
become so timid, that the Church refuses to take a stand on the
truth!
Diotrephes was
standing in the way of Church growth and God's truth, and he was
allowing his pride to rule his actions, rather than the Word of God.
He wanted to be
recognized as greater than the Apostles.
He wanted the people
to come to him for answers.
He wanted the people
to seek his opinion.
He wanted all church
ministries to be approved by him.
He wanted to sit in
the judgment seat.
He wanted to have
say so in all matters of the Church.
He wanted the right
to approve or disapprove all things of the Church.
Notice how easily he
attempted to move Jesus outside the Church, knocking to get back in.
Rev 3:14 And unto
the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith
the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the
creation of God;
Rev 3:15 I know thy
works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or
hot.
Rev 3:16 So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee
out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because
thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel
thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;
and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of
thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,
that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as
I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I
stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him
that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I
also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Though their names
have changed, there are many such men as Diotrephes in the church
today!
Mat 23:10 Neither
be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Mat 23:11 But he
that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12 And
whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall
humble himself shall be exalted.
What is the means to
rebuke such men?
*****3Jn 1:11
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He
that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
Diotrephes had
criticized the epistles of the Apostle John, but the Church is to
follow all the Epistles of the New Testament without questioning the
authority of the Apostles and the other writers because it is the
Holy Spirit who has preserved these words for the entire Church.
The one thing we are
to be sure of is, if it goes against the Word of God it is definitely
evil, and the Church must not follow anyone who teaches against the
written Word of God.
We are to support
traveling missionaries and evangelists who preach and teach the
truth. Those who reject Jesus must be rejected by the Church!
A divisive leader is
never to be followed, in fact they need to be rebuked and if they
will repent then they can stay, but if not, they need to be cast out
of the Church.
Luk 17:1 Then said
he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come:
but woe unto him, through whom they come!
Luk 17:2 It were
better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he
cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little
ones.
Luk 17:3 Take heed
to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and
if he repent, forgive him.
Luk 17:4 And if he
trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day
turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
Rom 12:9 Let love
be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that
which is good.
1Th 5:22 Abstain
from all appearance of evil.
There was another
godly leader who John knew stood for the truth and the Church needed
to know that some of the traveling men were true men of God!
*****3Jn 1:12
Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea,
and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
The name Demetrius,
was a well known name in Rome, with many generals using that name, so
this Demetrius could very well have been a Roman converted to
Christianity and would certainly have been treated as an enemy to any
Judaizers but Gaius should receive him as a brother in Christ and a
true man of God.
Diotrephes would
certainly have rejected this man!
The Apostle John
knew this man Demetrius very well.
Just like Gaius,
Demetrius had a strong testimony among all believers inside the
Church and outside the Church.
Just like Gaius,
Demetrius had a strong testimony among all the Church leaders.
Just like Gaius,
Demetrius had a strong testimony of what a true Christian should be.
Why were these
things true? Because Demetrius walked in the truth of God and he was
not afraid to take a stand for the Lord.
Rom 1:8 First, I
thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is
spoken of throughout the whole world.
Rom 16:19 For your
obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your
behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and
simple concerning evil.
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he
must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into
reproach and the snare of the devil.
It would take more
than just this letter to straighten out this church that was being
divided by Diotrephes so the Apostle wrote the last words to us that
he would ever write as he was to journey in the name of the Lord to
save one more church from false doctrine.
*****3Jn 1:13 I had
many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto
thee:
3Jn 1:14 But I
trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face.
Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
In the last days of
John, he encouraged us to know just how important it is to have a
good testimony.
Today there are even
more Diotrephes in our churches who refuse to allow anyone one to
come in and preach the truth.
We don't have the
Apostle John to travel from church to church to rebuke those who
teach a false doctrine.
Divisions in the
Church will drive away the Spirit of God.
Division in the
Church will open the door to envy in the Church.
Division in the
Church will open the door to malice in the Church.
So, there is nothing
sweeter than Christian fellowship.
We should get to
know each other enough that we know each other by name.
In the world we as
Christians may not have many friends, but in the church, we can have
many true friends!
John could have
written many more things on this day, but he chose to travel to this
place and gather together with his Christian family and speak of love
and not division.
Speak of the truth
of God and not some false gospel.
The one thing we as
Christians need today, is to have a good testimony for the Lord Jesus
Christ all our remaining days!
Amen
Let's Pray!
