Don't Be A Diotrephes

 Dear Saints:

Be careful what you name your children. Diotrephes means “nourished by Jupiter”.  He lived out his name. Instead of being inspired by the Holy Spirit, Diotrephes seem to be inspired by the god of Jupiter, a Greek god.

In our last study we met Gaius, whom Apostle John commended for his faith, love for the truth, love for the church and prospering in the things of God. Gaius excelled in hospitality and helped to advance the spread of the Gospel (3 John 1:1-8).  I want to be a Gaius. He is quite different from Diotrephes. Please don’t be a Diotrephes or manifest his spirit.

Diotrephes is said to love being “preeminence” among others things. He loves to be first in everything. Do you know of anyone like that? I know you have someone in mind. But we are all potential candidates for seeking preeminence and pushing others aside.

 Let’s read more about Diotrephes 3 John 1: 9-10:

“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.”

We are instructed to be humble not to be seeking first place. The problem is that one sin leads to another. Diotrephes always sort first place. He goes further to reject Apostolic authority and then starts to speak evil of brothers and sisters in Christ with malicious intent to destroy and disrupt the unity of the body of Christ.

Diotrephes was a running the church like his private business. He was obstructing and hindering the spread of the Gospel by being mean to traveling evangelist in his time and region.

We see some of these evils in some self-starter independent churches and other churches of today. They call themselves GO (general overseers) and Bishops. These church leaders like Diotrephes want you to sometimes worship them and will let you know that they are in charge.

There are trouble makers even in the church. Please don’t be one of them. Trouble makers must be confronted and Apostle John was going to do so in person when he visited this church. There’s a place for church discipline and we must all submit to it.

Paul instructed the Corinthian church to deal with the man who was practicing incest and sleeping with the father’s wife (1 Corinthians 5:1-8). We thank God the man in question later repented and returned to God and to the church.

The ultimate goal of church discipline is redemption and restoration. We must do what we can to save a brother or sister from continuing in sin and bring condemnation to themselves and dishonor Christ. Please pray for a sinning brother/sister and help to restore them.

Apostle John would further warn/encourage us, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” 3 John 1:11.

Imitation works. That’s why you see kids playing and acting like their favorite artist or athlete. Let’s imitate the good we see in each other and let’s show leadership in everything that others can emulate.

Do you have any heroes in the faith? Thank God for them.

Be a Gaius. Don’t be a Diotrephes! Stop “prating” or being “malicious”.

Lord Jesus, you are not only our savior and Lord but also our perfect example in words and deeds. Please help me to continue to be more like you and be good example to others around me. Please help me to receive your people and support the work of spreading your Gospel to this world. Amen

Lord, we pray for that brother/sister who may be on the wrong path today that you will bring convictions, repentance and deliverance for him or her. May your grace abound for them and us today and forever. Amen.