Commentary on "Power Struggle"

MARK MARTIN

 

Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, September 19, 2009

 

This lesson’s memory text: “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 11, NKJV).

John’s third letter is written to a man named Gaius and not to a local church. Gaius exuded the love of Christ in his walk and was recognized by the apostle John accordingly. The letter cannot be written to the local church because of a strong-willed man named Diotrephes who has taken control of the congregation and is rejecting the authority of the apostle John and those he has sent to minister to that congregation.

John is counseling Gaius to avoid the behavior shown by Diotrephes; which he labels as evil. John also appears to be questioning the heart, motive, and profession of Diotrephes. Can Diotrpehes know the Lord and then reject and disrespect the authority of an apostle who was discipled by Jesus Christ Himself and who has shown himself faithful? Our application for the post-apostolic church is that we need to wary of those who have strong leadership yet have no love, no respect for authority, or who speak or behave un-biblically. These people will manipulate others to their cause instead of what is Scriptural. Everyone and everything needs to be tested by our final authority today; the Word of God (1 Thes. 5:21; Acts 17:11, 1 Tim. 3:16).

A question is asked, “Certainly as Christians today, we don’t face anything similar, do we?” We most certainly do, and as we can see there can be wolves in shepherd’s clothing as well as sheep’s.

 

Summary

1. How do your spiritual leaders behave? With the love of Christ or like Diotrephes?
2. Do your spiritual leaders submit to our final authority today, the Word of God?
3. How important is truth to you? Are you testing everything and everyone by the full council of God’s Word as it commands?

 

GO TO DAY 2

 

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