FELLOWHELPERS TO THE TRUTH
3 JOHN 1-8
(November 17, 2019 – a.m. p.m. – MBC baesa)
Introduction
• This short epistle was written by John to a faithful member of a church. The Bible does not mention the location of this church. The New Testament recorded at least four men named Gaius. The Gaius in our passage cannot positively identified with other Gaius but his name means “I am glad,”
• The responsibility of an individual in the Church is to walk in the Truth that they become “fellow helpers to the truth,” – v. 8
• In the first 8 verses of our passage, we can see that it requires for a person to walk in the truth to be a fellow helper to the truth. – (v.1-8)
I- DOCTRINAL LOVE OF JOHN TO GAIUS (vs. 1; 2 John 1)
3 John 1 “The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.”
2 John 1 “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;”
• John’s doctrinal love to Gaius speaks of divine truth based on biblical and doctrinal position to stand.
• The love of John for Gaius was firmly establish in the truth and on account of the truth. This is different from the sentimental love today which is against the truth and not real love.
II- DESIRE OF JOHN FOR GAIUS (v. 2)
3 John 2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
• John’s wish or prayer for Gaius was to have a good physical condition.
• It is John’s desire that Gaius physical health is with the same level of prosperity with his spiritual health.
• If you heard that someone wish for you is to have a physical health equal with your spiritual health, would you consider that a good thing or bad thing? Whatever kind of thinking you have for that desire of someone else for you will determine something of your spiritual health.
→ It is sad to say that multitude of crowd today are much concerned on their material with financial prosperity and physical health, but give little value or attention to their spiritual health. You need to focus more on the inward man than your outward man.
2 Corinthians 4:16–“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
• Same Principles of Physical Health is applicable to Spiritual Health:
A. We need a Proper Diet
1. Proper Physical health – Balanced Diet
2. Proper Spiritual health – Balanced Diet of the Word of God (teaching in Sunday school, preaching in Worship services and studying in home bible reading)
1 Timothy 4:6- “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”
Jeremiah 15:16 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”
1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
B. We need Proper Exercise
1. Physical Health – Proper Physical Exercise
2. Spiritual Health – Proper Spiritual Exercise (Exercise in Godliness)
1 Timothy 4:7b-8- “...exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
1. Exercise Godliness in Christian Living (Behavior)
a. Godliness in our Christian Testimony (What people see in us) - Matthew 5:16
b. Godliness in our Prayer Life (What God sees in us) - Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17
c. Godliness in our Christian Giving (Giving our time, talent, treasure)
d. Godliness in our Witnessing
2. Exercise Godliness in Cleanliness
2 Corinthians 7:1- “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
• Exercise Cleanliness is to Escape the pollution of the world and Keep yourself unspotted from the world, and be not conform with this world. Be ye separate from worldliness.- 2 Peter 1:4; James 1:27; Romans 12:2
III- DELIGHT OF JOHN IN GAIUS WALK (v. 3-4)
• John rejoiced greatly because of the following:
A. John rejoiced greatly because of Gaius Inward Truth Testified by the Brethren – v. 3a
3 John 3a “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.”
Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
B. John rejoiced greatly because of Gaius Outward Walk in the Truth Testified to the Brethren – v.3b
3 John 3b“For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth."
Philippians 2:12-16 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
C. John greatest Joy (v. 4)
3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
• We do not know if Gaius was John’s child physically, spiritually (his convert), or metaphorically. The last usage of this word is the most common one in the New Testament. In this case he could have been a disciple of John or simply a younger believer (2 John 1:4; 1 Timothy 1:2). The joy and satisfaction of the apostle’s ministry when he hears of his fellow Christians walk in truth. John does not say that he has no joy equal to this but he does say that he has none about it.
D. The Source of all Truth:
1. Jesus is the Truth - John 14:6
2. God’s Word is the Truth - John 17:17
3. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit Of Truth - 1 John 5:6d.
4. The Church Is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth - 1 Timothy 3:15
IV- DEMONSTRATION OF GAIUS WALK IN TRUTH AND LOVE (v. 5-8)
A. Expression of Gaius Truth and Love in Hospitality (v. 5)
3 John 5 “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;”
→ Gaius hospitality to the Brethren and to the Strangers was faithfully expressed.
Hebrews 13:2 - “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
B. Essential For Gaius Hospitality (v.7-8)
3 John 7 “Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.”
1. The missionaries were in the field doing work of God for "His name's sake." (v. 7a)
→ The missionaries were Christ’s witnesses used by God that went forth to the lost world.
3 John 7 “Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles”
2. The missionaries took nothing from the Gentiles. v. 7b.
→ They did not ask the unsaved to supporting financially the Lord’s mission’s work they were doing.
3 John 8 “We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.”
3. Gaius was a fellowhelper to the truth by his love and generosity shown to these missionaries for the Lord. (v.8)
Galatians 6:6 “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.”
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
CONCLUSION: Be a fellowhelper of the Truth by doing all you can to minister to those minister who ministers the Truth..
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