(Text Only)
Title: John’s Farewell
We have finally reached the end of the 3 Johaninne letters. This is a journey we began as a church way back in November of 2008, about 18 months ago. And today we draw to a close the third of John’s 3 letters, and, as we know, this letter is a bit different from the first two.
Whereas first and second John mainly dealt with refuting heresy, 3 John is a letter written by John to his friend, beloved Gaius, to do two things:
- Commend and recommend Demetrius into the fellowship
- Rebuke and warn agains the evil ways of Diotrephes
Today we will see the final commendation from John, as well as his farewell salutation. Let us look to the scriptures.
(read/pray)
- By What Reflection?
In verse 12 John offers a final commendation to Gaius concerning his friend Demetrius. In essence John says, “And finally, my friend Gaius, please let me fully endorse and recommend my friend Demetrius into your ministry. He is a solid believer, loves the Lord, and you should welcome him and help him on his way when he comes to you, just as you have done for so many others. Demetrius is a good man. You can trust him.”
What I find so interesting is how John words his recommendation of Demetrius. He has two things, two reflections, if you will, that he offerers concerning Demetrius:
- He has a good testimony from all.
In other words, other believers, not just John, have witnessed the sincerity of Demetrius’ faith and have been impressed. They have seen him work humbly for the King. He carries a good reputation amongst like-minded believers.
Key: Do we, like Demetrius, carry a good reputation amongst like-minded believers?
We can’t always impress those who don’t share our values. I doubt highly that Susan Sarandon, or Tim Robbins, or Nancy Pelosi would care to tell others that they are impressed with me, and I totally understand that. We have a completely different set of values.
But I do hope that Jim Fox thinks and speaks highly of me. I do hope that Cory Finton thinks and speaks highly of me. And why do I care what these two men would think of me? Because we share the same values.
- He has a good testimony from the truth itself.
Here’s the real power statement from John. He then says, “Hey, if my word and testimony isn’t good enough, then compare Demetrius to the Truth, he’ll pass that test with flying colors too.”
And for us today, the Truth is easily measured by what? The standard of Scripture that we all abide by. So essentially, John says, “Don’t take my word for it. Compare it to scripture and see what you think.” Does that sound familiar? It should, I’ve been saying that very thing from this pulpit for 9 years now.
Key: How does your reputation fare when compared to scripture?
Now, I could go a number of ways with this, but for the sake of time and simplicity, let us just look to a very practical measuring stick that is offered by Paul: The Fruit of the Spirit. Here we see 9 measurable characteristics of the Holy Spirit working in someone’s life. If we simply go down the list and ask ourselves, “Has there been improvement in all or most of these areas in my life over the last year, over the last five years, or over the last 10 years, then scripture…Truth…used as a reflection, reports a good testimony of us.
The secret is to be rebuked by scripture but not discouraged. To be corrected and be enthused to fight for the joy laid before you in the manner of knowing and loving Christ Jesus. You need to be in a church, with other believers that are helping you to find joy in your own correction, simply because each correction makes you more like Christ, and that is worth any price.
- John understands the limitations of the pen.
(read 13/14)
Briefly as we close this morning, I’d like to note on a very real level, that John understands that writing is secondary to face to face fellowship. And for that reason, he longs to follow his letter to Gaius with an in person visit, in order to speak “face to face.”
What is my application that I’d like to draw us to today?
Well it’s about:
Email.
Facebook.
Instant messaging.
Texting.
Twitter.
Cell phones.
Video Chat.
Do I stand before you and claim: “These things are of the Devil!” No. I partake, on some level, with every one of these. I can’t imagine my life without my computer, or even my iPhone, because they have allowed me a level of connection and connectivity that I covet.
Trust me, being a pastor of a church with a college ministry where we “lose” 5-10 regular attenders per year, I am so very thankful for these technologies, particularly email, because I can stay in easy communication with so many people I’ve grown to love.
But…
I also recognize, the advantage of face to face fellowship. A few weeks ago Jamie and I were working on a proposal for the community groups we hope to start over the summer and we had communicated in every way possible: email, texting, phone calls, sending files and letters to each others, smoke signals, telepathy, you name it.
Finally, I called Jamie and said, “We need to meet. Bring all your stuff, let’s sit in my office for an hour and have lunch and we’ll finish hammering this out.”
My point is this: If these technologies are used to bring us face to face, or to keep us in communication when it is impossible to be face to face, then they are profitable.
But, if these technologies are used to replace face to face communication, for the sake of “saving time” (as is the practice in the business world) then we are missing opportunities for REAL fellowship.
I doubt that John foresaw Twitter when he wrote this letter 2000 years ago. But I’m so very glad that God did. Because John’s words here can be a stark reminder that one of the first steps to losing true fellowship with our father is losing true fellowship with our brothers and sisters.
Pray