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Sunday, November 10, 2019

Being Stable in Our Beliefs

Stability in Our Faith

Book of Jude Verse 3-16


This man used by the Holy Spirit to write this book is Jude, the brother of James, and we can say the half-earthly brother of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Mat 13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

We should remember the earthly family members of Jesus had abandoned Him, until He resurrected from the dead, then they all became believers.

What is "stability"? Stability is the strength to stand without being moved or overthrown.

Stability is steadiness and firmness of character. In many ways it is the same as integrity!

This is a trait we need to adopt in our Christian life and in our Christian ministry!

Jude is writing to everyone who is sanctified by God the Father.

We know that to be sanctified is to be set apart and Jude is writing to all those who are set apart to be used by God the Father.

Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

In the same breath, Jude also says those who are preserved in Jesus Christ.

To be preserved, means to save from injury or destruction as every Christ has been saved from the wrath of God the Father, which we already know.

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, "we shall be saved from wrath through him".

We will never be an object of God's wrath though He will chastise us as His child.

We should also not miss that word "called".

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the "called" according to his purpose.

It should be obvious that Jude is writing to the Beloved of God, all the Church, all the Body of Christ, of which the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of and the Foundation of!

So many today have forgotten these things.

So many today want the salvation that comes with the Lord, but they do not want to obey His Word.

It seems to me that the Holy Spirit looked into the future to the day we live in, when He gave these words to Jude!

Now let us see this message of the earthly brother of our Lord and Savior.

*****Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Diligence is the constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken.

It is impossible to be too diligent for the things of Heaven!

The most important thing we will do in this life, is to choose the salvation provided by the "Grace" of God the Father through faith in the work of His Son, God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is only one "faith" that can provide this salvation!

Our "faith" must be based on the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the "Promises" that He makes to all those of this "ONE FAITH"!

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

How can so many say they love the Lord and yet think there is some other way to get Heaven?

Jesus says He is the only way so if you believe there is some other way, then you are calling Jesus the Messiah a liar!

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.

To contend is to use our best effort to obtain that salvation that comes only by the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is where we are to place all our faith.

1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

We are not only to contend for our true faith, but we are to "earnestly contend" for this one and only "faith" that can get you to Heaven!

We have no greater job in our ministry than to eagerly contend, to be zealous in our "faith" in the Lord Jesus Christ, the absolute truth of the Scriptures!

2Pe 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

We could not know the truth had the Holy Spirit not called on these men who used such diligence to bring us the truth of God the Father in written form, that cannot be denied except to say God has not done all these things which He has said that He did.

The salvation as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ, is sufficient for all!

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

The truth is, that salvation can come only by and through the Lord Jesus Christ!

The truth is, that the "glory" of the Almighty God is peculiarly connected to His truth!

There cannot be many ways to the truth, because there is only one Savior!

It is our job as the Saints of God to be obedient to God's Word and God says we are to contend for our "faith" in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We cannot do this if we are wishy-washy about our faith!

The prize of our salvation is just too wonderful for us not to take our stand on the truth of God!

How will we ever convince our children and grandchildren if we do not contend for our "faith" in the promises of God!

And why are we to take such a stance? Because there always those who work for the Devil who say there is more than one way to get to God's Heaven.

*****Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Over and over again, these men chosen and equipped by the Holy Spirit, have warned us that there are enemies inside the Church.

These are those who have not prepared themselves to preach the Gospel.

This does not mean those who have not attended seminaries or Bible College, because we know the greatest teacher of all is the Holy Spirit.

If these persons have not spent time with the Holy Spirit, then they can never teach us the things of God!

They cannot even have the Holy Spirit on their side, until they have accepted all the work of the Lord Jesus Christ as proclaimed in the true Scriptures!

They come speaking evil of the things of God.
They come ignoring the truth of the Gospel.
They come into cold churches claiming to have a new message of God.
They come into certain churches and teach a prosperity gospel which is not the true Gospel.
They come by mega churches refusing to take a stand on the truth of God and therefore allowing the world to dictate their message.
They come by deception twisting the Word of God into a lie.

They suddenly appear when the church has gotten weak and lost the power of the Holy Spirit!

They are wicked and ungodly people on their own agenda and on Satan's payroll!

It is these men and some women who the Church needs to take a stand against, and contend against them!

They reject the Lord Jesus Christ, even if they mention His name, therefore God has already judged them, and they are to have no part in the Church, and it is up to the Church to remove them or in the least to take a stand against them and cause them to leave!

They are already walking around in most every church waiting on their opportunity and many have reached the area of the pulpit or they have removed the pulpit!

Notice today there are not many pulpits because a pulpit is a reminder of the chosen man of God!

They are already in the classrooms of our children or the younger generation usually ignoring the older Church members.

Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

One man wrote, they have butter in their mouths, but they have swords in their heart!

One man wrote those who see the smoke, can put out the fire.

Those who hear the dog bark may not be bitten.

Those who hear the rattle of the snake may not be bitten.

Those who see their enemy can avoid him.

But those who are a secret enemy, are harder to stop before the damage has already been done!

They are without God.
They are without faith.
They are without Christianity.
They deny God.
They deny Jesus Christ, so when they open their mouths they can be seen and heard and make themselves known but they will do this in subtle ways that only those who study the Scriptures themselves will notice.

Php 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Php 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

And in their teaching, they will turn the "Grace of God" into lasciviousness!

We see this in a certain presidential candidate today, who boldly claims he was created in God's image and there are many others, and no one stands up to them for fear of being called a bigot, or a racist or some other ugly name that is a lie itself!

We have been warned of these things throughout the Scriptures and guess what, false teachers are here and in full view!

They have crept into the Church, many of them even being ordained by other Pastors and Preachers they are so deceiving.

2Pe 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

If we are good stewards of the "Grace of God" and the "truth of God", we will be able to stop these deceivers and save some of those who fall into their traps!

We must understand the truth of God!

*****Jud 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

We must clearly understand that God has made every attempt to save every soul that has been alive since Jesus went back to Heaven, but we know that they must accept all the things of Christ!

We must also understand God loves everyone! God does many things in people’s lives that goes unnoticed every day!

There was no doubt that it was Jehovah God that intervened on behalf of the Hebrew children, that allowed them to escape from slavery in Egypt.

Every family had to kill a lamb and paint the entrances to their homes so their firstborn child would not be taken, and the death angel would pass over and they would remain safe.

They believed enough to do this thing, yet they refused to believe that God would keep them safe on their journey to the promise land.

God will judge unbelief!

God caused these children of Israel to wander in the desert for 40 years, until all unbelievers died off and were replaced by their children.

As Christians, we must not only receive the truth of God, we must retain the truth of God! In most cases it is called "repent" of our old life.

To repent is not only a complete change in our mind, but also a complete change in our actions and a complete change our lives!

In reality we must be "Born Again".

We must quit walking in the lies of this world, and walk in the truth of God!

We must retain the truths of God, until the day He takes us home!

Psa 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

What happened to Israel, will also happen to false teachers and those they deceive. They will never enter into the promise land though they may get close enough to see it!

God gives us another example. This time a Heavenly example.

*****Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Angels were created in spotless purity and they had only one commandment. Obedience.

Sounds familiar.

They were exalted to be able to spend all their time in Heaven. They had two jobs.

They had to praise the Lord.
They had to watch over the humans of this earth.

We know that because of Lucifer, who rebelled against Jehovah, one third of these mighty creatures followed him and are today reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto judgment day.

If God is willing to destroy these Heavenly creatures for the sin of disobedience, what makes us believe He will not do the same to us.

In fact more so, for God had greater plans for all of us who live upon this earth, but we to must first obey Him.

What happens when we reject the truth of God?

The Holy Spirit gives us one more example that should hit closer to home, because we see it play out before our eyes every day!

*****Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah should prove to us, that all such peoples and those that condone them are disobedient to the Word of God.

God destroys all disobedience and God expects His children to learn from these things and realize that those who preach a false gospel, will be treated exactly the same!

Jer 50:40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

To walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, is to be blessed with a Heavenly home. To walk in disobedience is to be destroyed and spend eternity in a Burning Lake of Fire.

Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities that surrounded them, are a vivid example of how God will destroy this earth one day in the future because of disobedience and unbelief!

*****Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Even when these evil men are asleep, they can think of nothing else but more wickedness.

They sleep in sin!

1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

They are deluded in their thought process and this is the way of the world we live in today!

Our own young people are deluded in their thought process, because the world has intended to influence the way they think.

Our grandchildren are deluded in their thought process and we may not have much time left to reach them with the truth!

They see their actions as good or at least ok compared to this world, but we are not to compare ourselves to this world we are to compare ourselves to Heavenly things!

Our young people do not sense the danger in the things they do, because the world says these things are ok.

They despise authority!

These false teachers are no different. They despise the authority of a Holy God to dictate their life and their demise, and they choose to teach their own thoughts jeopardizing all the children of God!

They speak evil of those who try to worship the way God has approved which is in Spirit and in Truth!

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

How often should the Lord remind us of these things?

*****Jud 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

What do we know? We know that since Lucifer rebelled and was kicked out of Heaven, he and one third of the angels are the enemies of God, and since they are the enemies of God, they are then the enemies of Michael and Gabriel and all the remaining angels.

The one thing God's angels will never do, they will never bring accusations against anybody because it is God who brings "Judgment"!

We do know that Lucifer is just the opposite. In fact one of his names is "the accuser"!

Rev_12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for "the accuser" of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Michael would never have even blinked had Lucifer been standing in front of him and said this.

It is a fact that the body of Moses was buried where no one but God knew the location, and again Michael would never have even blinked had Lucifer made an attempt to find the place where he was buried.

Deu 34:6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

Lucifer would have had great fun trying to get the tribes of Israel to worship the dead body of Moses and not Jehovah, but in the end, this is only a Jewish tradition and not facts of this Scripture.

We should understand this Scripture just as it is written!

There is a spirit world around us at all times and the angels of God are protecting God's people, and they will never allow Satan to get the upper hand to cause God's children to lose their salvation, but we should know that Satan would love to ruin our reputation and out testimony for the Lord.

Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

We do not have to worry about what Michael will do, because he will do exactly what Jehovah tells him to do and Lucifer is already doomed to the Burning Lake of Fire and he knows it!

We should understand evil speaking is also sin and the angels of the Lord will never speak evil of anyone, even other angels, even though they may quote Scripture to anyone.

Railing against anyone is a sin!

Satan and his followers, his demons, will rail against any and every believer but God angels will never do this!

In the end what do false teachers do? They speak evil of things they know nothing about! They cannot know the truth of Scripture without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit!

*****Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

They go the way of all unbelievers! The sad part of this is, that having been in a Bible believing church, where they will have heard the truth and simply rejected the truth.

All throughout our education we see that we have 7 senses and these senses can only learn from this natural world we live in.

The Bible is a Spiritual Book, that can only be understood with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit(Ghost)!

Forget evolution! The animal world which includes these "brute beast" have these same senses, they just do not have the brain power and the understanding God gave to His greatest creation, the humans.

None of these can understand Spiritual things, except those humans who by Jesus Christ, and only by Jesus Christ, have the Holy Spirit living within them, in fact the entire Holy Trinity living within us!

All those who depend upon the things of the world, will only see corruption because they will corrupt themselves!

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

What does the Holy Spirit say about them? Woe unto them! A woe from God is a curse from God!

*****Jud 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

In reality, a false teacher is a "murderer" for they will try their best to deny as many as they can of the truth of Heaven.

Licentiousness is a word not seen very much today, but it is the excessive indulgence of human liberty, liberty God has not given to us.

God never intended for us to live as we please and do whatever comes into our minds!

Licentiousness is the god of fools!

They live in a world where there is no answer to their sin and they do not care, because they aren't seeking an answer!

They reject that there is a Hell so there can be no Heaven either!

False teachers do not believe God so, they teach that there is no need to worship Him!
False teachers do not have the knowledge of God's love, so they cannot know love!
False teachers will be destroyed because they are doomed to an eternity of grief and judgment, (woe)!

Cain did not have a real sense of God's care, so he envied his brother enough to kill him, simply because God rejected his offering and offered him a chance to repent which he refused.

Balaam was the example of true false teacher. He wanted God's blessing, but he wanted to be paid before he would attempt tell the truth of God. We know Balaam died by the sword of the people he had refused to bless.

Core knew where Moses had gotten his authority. Core knew God's ordinances and God's sanctions and knew he need only obey, yet he became a gainsayer. A gainsayer is someone who contradicts or denies and opposes someone of authority.

Num 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Num 16:2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Num 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

False teachers are just those who decide to rebel against the authority of God!

Those who listen to false teaching. Listen to the Apostle Paul.

Act 28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
Act 28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
Act 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Act 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
Act 28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
Act 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
Act 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

False teachers are spots and blemishes in the cause of Christ Jesus!

*****Jud 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jud 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

These preachers and teachers have crept into the Church not having the "Spiritual" qualifications to be in these positions.

They will pervert the Gospel to evil ends.

They turn the "Grace" of God into lasciviousness(liberal wantonness, shameful conduct) the proof being, that we can see it happening in all mainline denominations!

They deny the simplest of things of essential doctrine! Denying our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ!

Spots can be seen as an interpretation of submerged rocks, which are the sea going vessels worst fear and usually prove to be fatal.

Those “feast of charity” were the gatherings of the early church, where the rich who would bring much and the poor would bring little, but they could all fellowship in one place and in one accord, but a false teacher would take advantage of the situation to cause division.

These false teachers will take part in the meal and feed themselves with no fear of God, because they do not know Him!

In reality the fellowship of believers is always to be "Spiritual" with godly love, joy and peace being at the forefront, all centered around Jesus Christ.

We simply cannot all anyone to interfere with the fellowship of God's people, because they are causing harm to God's children!

These people must be rejected!

They are like that cloud that the farmer has been praying for, but just passes on over without one drop of lifegiving rain.

They are like fruit trees that blossom so beautifully, but do not provide any fruit.

A false teacher may offer hope, security, and fulness of life, but his message will always be unstable and empty of the truth and leave those that hear him or her, hopeless!

False teachers are like the raging waves of the Seas that only stir up mire and dirt!

Isa 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.
Isa 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
Isa 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

All false teachers are doomed to the Burning Lake of Fire!

They will be judged by the One they hate the most who is the Lord Jesus Christ!

They will wander in the blackness of darkness throughout eternity!

We need to be sure, that those who teach and preach in the Church are first saved and that their message follows the complete Word of God!

It is Jude who tells us somethings about Enoch.

*****Jud 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jud 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

This is that same Enoch who walk with God right on up into Heaven.

Gen 5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
Gen 5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

How did Enoch get to walk on up into Heaven? By faith in the truth of God!

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Now some would say where did Jude get His information?

Some would say well there is an old Book of Enoch that is not included in our Bible.

The truth is, we have the complete and perfect Word of God! If there is an old Book of Enoch it was written much later than the Book of Jude!

We already have the truth all we need do is just accept it.

It was the Holy Spirit who decided what Scriptures would be placed in the Bible we have today, at least in the KJV Bible which is one of the very few Bibles that were written according to the Received Text, the Textus Receptus.

There are no lost books of the Bible. The Books of the Apocrypha may be of use for some history, but they are not any part of the Holy Ghost Inspired Word of God!

Enoch prophesied of the Lord returning to execute judgment upon all false teachers, all those who followed them, and all those who reject our Savior.

What is the truth of those who reject the truth of God?

*****Jud 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

They are people planted by Satan to cause confusion in the Church!

They are people planted by Satan to cause disturbance in the Church!

They are people planted to cause division in the Church and all we need do is look at most all the mainline denominations and we can see these things happening right now in our lifetime!

They are faultfinders!
They are insinuators!
They are liberal minded!
They are pretenders!
They are dissemblers!
These are all Luciferians!

Amen

Let's Pray!

Sunday, November 3, 2019

What Is Having A Good Testimony


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!