Shabbat Shalom! Today, I would like us to turn to the third epistle of John. This will be the final ministry meeting on the epistles of John. We covered the first and second epistles that Yohanan, that is John, wrote. And today, in this ministry meeting, I would like to cover the third epistle of John. It is a very important letter that Yohanan wrote to the family of God, Mishpachat Elohim. And in this letter, Yohanan writing about three men here in this passage. And every one of us have to ask ourselves the question, which men, which individual that John is writing about is the one that I would like to be like as I'm following my Messiah, my Savior, our Lord Yeshua himself.

Please follow me as I'm reading this third epistle. And I'm reading. The elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoice greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and to strangers which have borne witness of thy charity or thy love before the church, the assembly. Whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well.

Because that for his name's sake, they went forth taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such that we might be fellow helpers to the truth. I wrote unto the church, but Diotrephes, who lovest to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds, which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words and not content therewith. Neither does he himself receive the brethren, and he forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 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.

Demetrius has a good report of all men, and of the truth itself. Yea, and we also bear record, and ye know that our record is true. I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee. But I trust, I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace, shalom be to thee. Our friends salute thee, greet the friends by name. This is the last verse of 3 John. And again, I would like to mention, Yohanan was the last apostle that remained alive. When he met Yeshua the Messiah in the Galil, and accepted Yeshua the Messiah as his Mashiach, Messiah and Savior, he was rather young.

But Yeshua the Messiah had died, was buried, and rose, and ascended to heaven, and seated in the right hand of the Father on the majesty on high. The church, the assembly was found. And now the apostles were scattered through the nations of the world. They preached a message of the gospel. And here is this man, by the name of Yohanan, remains still alive. He was at about 90 years of age, if not older. And as an elder, as a zaken, he is writing to the Mishpacha, to the family. And every believer in Yeshua, the Messiah, is part of this family. Even though the church is scattered, and dispersed, and divided, and have all sort of fractures in this professing church, every true believer is part of this Mishpacha, the family of God.

Everyone who truly confessed that his or her sins have been paid by the precious blood of Yeshua the Messiah. He or she are part of the family of God. And out of concern for the people of God and the family of God, here John is writing. Now can you imagine, brothers and sisters, he is old. He might soon be taken out of this scene to his Mashiach, to Yeshua. But he loved the brothers and sisters. And he was writing to them. And he really wanted them to walk in the emet, the truth. You will notice in this letter how many times again, like the second epistle, the word "truth" is mentioned.

In verse 3 he says, "Brethren came and testified of the truth." Verse 3b, "Even as you walk in the truth." Verse 4, "I have joy in my heart when my children walk in truth." Verse 8, "Be fellow helpers in the truth." Verse 12, it says, "The meteors have a good report of all men and of the truth itself." And then he said at the end of verse 12, "And ye know that our record is true." The truth is important. Paul said, "Let God be true and every man a liar." Yeshua said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." And we need to hold on to the emet, to the truth, and also seek to live in the light of the truth of the word of God.

So notice there are three men mentioned here in this passage that we read. The first eight verses is Gaios. The second one, in verses 9 to 11, is a man called Diotrephes. And the third one, in verse 12 to verse 14, his name is Demetrius. All of these three men were part of the assembly, the local church, to which the apostle John wrote. We are part of a fellowship. Of course we are part of the large body of Messiah, but we are part of a local fellowship. How do we behave? How do we conduct ourselves among the people of God? Here we really learn of three individuals, which each one of them conducted themselves in some manner in which John is speaking about here in this passage.

Let's learn some of the things that Yohanan has to say about these three individuals who were part of a local assembly. And you and I have to ask ourselves the question, really, beloved brothers and sisters: Am I a help or a hindrance? Am I a blessing to the people of God? Or am I a stumbling block to the people of God? Am I a builder or am I a destroyer? Am I acting in the flesh or am I acting in the spirit? Am I humble before the Lord and seeking to be used by the Lord? Or am I, as a believer, who is acting in the flesh and really not enjoying what God has for me?

So he began with this man by the name of Gaios, to whom he writes this letter. Notice in verse 1, he said, "The elder," the Hebrew word is "zaken," in Greek, "presbyterios," and it's really speaking about an elder who is an older but also an elder among the people of God. He says, "The elder unto the well-beloved Gaios whom I love in the truth." He says, Gaios, he's writing this note and he said to him, Gaios, I'm an elder but also an older because the Hebrew word oftentimes "zaken" means not only elder but also older individual. He rose up in age, he was getting up in age there, and he says, "I'm writing to you, Gaios," but look at what he's saying to Gaios.

He says, "You are well-beloved, whom I love in the truth." You see, John was a real servant of the Lord. He was so burdened for the work of the Messiah and that he so much wanted to see the believers are built and are growing spiritually and growing in the truth. And he says, "I love you, Gaios." And he said to him, "Not only that I love you, you are well-beloved." You know, in Hebrew, the name David, David, comes from the same root word, "beloved." Yedid or Yedidi in Hebrew. And I love you in the truth, in the emet, because you are part of the family of God.

Perhaps John, that is Yohanan, was used to share the gospel with Gaios. He led him to Yeshua, the Messiah, and now he wants to see him growing spiritually. He perhaps invested a lot of time and prayer on behalf of Gaios, talking to the Lord. And he led him to Yeshua, the Messiah, and now he is writing to him. He says to him in verse 2, "Notice that John wishes for Gaios' physical health." You see, apparently Gaios might have been a sick person. And you know, sometimes we think that if we are sick, we cannot be spiritually healthy. You see, our spiritual health does not depend upon our physical health.

And here we see, look what he says to him in verse 2, "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospering." Apparently, Gaios must have been a very spiritual-minded man. But he was not as healthy. Maybe he had some limitation. Maybe he had some sickness in his body. Nobody tells us what we had here. But what we really learn here, that even though he was not healthy physically, his soul prospered. You know, sometimes, brothers and sisters, the Lord allows us in our lives to experience trial, tribulation, even sicknesses in our lives, in order to teach us lessons.

Because you see, when everything is fine with us, and we are healthy, and we are wealthy, and everything is well with us, And usually what happens in a time such as this is that we say to God, "I don't need you in my life. I am okay right now." But what we really learn is that God wants us to grow spiritually, and as it says here, "As your soul prospereth." Apparently, Gaios' soul prospered. He was occupied with the Lord. He was reading the Word of God. He was seeking to live for Yeshua, the Messiah. And his soul prospered. And his soul prospered. When we are close to the Lord, maybe our bodies will not be in the best shape in the world, But the soul is being refreshed and encouraged in the things of the Lord.

And there is a spiritual prosperity in the life of a person who is occupied with Yeshua, the Messiah. And he wrote it like this in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 16. He says, "For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." Now, you notice this, beloved brothers and sisters? Look at your life and my life. 20 years ago, 30 years ago, we were much more, we had a better health condition. We were in a better shape, but time passes by. The body grown within ourselves because the body is not improving as we age. In fact, the opposite happened.

And so what we really learned from this, that even though the body does not improve, the inner man, the soul, can be prospering. And spiritual prosperity is important for the people of God. And John, that is, Yohanan, wishes this for Gaius. They say, "Gaius, I pray that you also will have, even as your soul prospers." Well, apparently, Gaius' bodily health was not as good as his soul health. Now, that does not mean that we should look to get sick and not well, and so on. We don't search for this. We wish to be healthy and well in our physical bodies. But nevertheless, beloved brothers and sisters, that does not make a person spiritual because the body is healthy.

What we need is an inner man that is growing in appreciation of the person of our Lord, Yeshua, the Messiah. And this morning, I got a call from my sister from Israel, and I had an opportunity to share with her. And I said to her, "Noga, you know what? Look how life is changing. Abba is not here anymore. He passed. Emma is not here anymore. She passed away. Many members of our family are not here anymore. Things are changing in this world. But God never changes. You and I used to be young. I told her, "I remember when you and I were young in Jerusalem, where you used to go to take the garbage outside and put it in the garbage pan outside." I remember, we look back and we see, we are talking now about 50 years ago.

Everything, you might say we were healthy and strong, but time passes by. The body is not the same. But what about the soul? And I told her, "Why believe that Yeshua is the Messiah?" Because we are going to leave this scene. We are not going to stay here forever. Or what about our eternal destiny? And the only way to be able to be right with God that there will be something for us for eternity, I must confess my sins. I must repent and accept that Yeshua is the one who paid for my sins that I have committed. And praise God he did for each and every one of us.

But time is passing by. The body is not getting improved. But the soul can prosper of a believer in Yeshua the Messiah. There is one thing for sure for all men. Everyone will have to have an appointment with death. But a believer in Yeshua the Messiah. For us, death is becoming a servant to take us to the immediate presence of our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, to live eternally without any pain or sorrow or any suffering in eternity. And so, John is saying, "I wish for you to be healthy, Gaius. I wish your body will prosper," you might say, "and be healthy as your soul had been prospering." But what is important is that the soul is being prospering.

And so, he is writing this to Gaius. And then he said in verses 3 and 4, John rejoiced. In a way that Gaius conducted himself and the testimony that Gaius had been to many people around him. 3 John, verses 3 and 4, Yohanan is saying to him, notice those two verses. He says, "For I rejoice greatly." "When the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in truth, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." You see, John says, "Some people came and they told us about you." And you see what he says in verse 3, he says, "I rejoice greatly that the brethren came and testify of the truth that was in you, Gaius.

As you walk in the truth." You see, apparently. You see, Gaius never needed to go to someone and say to him, "Look at me, am I okay?" He didn't have to do so. You know why? Because he was walking in the truth. And it was evident in his life. So, when people got in touch with him, they say, "You know what, I just visited Brother Gaius." And boy, he left an impact upon my life. He spoke to my heart the way he conducted himself. His behavior was pleasing to the Lord. I've been encouraged by Gaius. I wonder sometime about us when somebody passes by us and he rub shoulders with them.

And when they leave, they can say, "Boy, I spent some time that I benefited from this. My visit with this brother or this sister. I've been encouraged in the Lord. He or she helped me to grow spiritually." That's what Gaius was. He was a man that was a faithful man. Paul said in the book of Corinthians, "It was required from a servant that he may be found faithful." And how often time we look at ourselves and we say, "Lord, I haven't been faithful. I haven't been where I should have been." And yet the Lord says, "Listen, you failed. You confessed before the Lord. You turned to him.

Get up and continue to walk." And Gaius, he was not a perfect man. But he sought to be faithful. And so, Yohanan saying, "Gaius, you know, I have such a joy when I heard about your testimony." Other people came and they testify of the truth that is in you. He said, "It was not only a theological truth in the head." Because he said, "Even as thou walkest in truth." You see, it's very easy to know the Bible, to read the text from the Bible and to say, "Hey, I memorized this verse." But this is another thing, beloved brothers, to make it applicable to our day-by-day living.

It is there where we fail, right? We all can say, "Well, I memorized this verse and my family taught me this and my father told me that, my mother told me that." But how about making it real in our lives? You see, a person becomes a believer in Yeshua, he or she is going to be tested. God is going to test them when opposition comes, when rejection comes, when friends are being lost and so on. He is going to test it. Not because he wants us to fail. But because, like a teacher, he wants us to prosper, to grow spiritually, to be useful. And so, Gaius was such a great testimony.

Not only that he knew the truth in his head, but notice his expression, "walketh in the truth." Amazing thought that we have here about Gaius' testimony. To walk in the truth. Go with me to Psalm 1 for a moment. Mizmor le David. We read in chapter 1, verses 1 to 3. "Blessed is the man, Ashrei Haish, that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. Nor standeth in the way of sinners. Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord. And in his law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth fruit in his season.

His leaf shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." You notice the word "prosper" come here again? Now the word "prosper" here is not speaking about necessarily physical prosperity, but spiritual prosperity. Whatever this man or this woman will do when they are walking with the Lord, when they are waiting on the Lord, there is a promise of spiritual prosperity. It might link with some other prosperity that God will provide for them, but definitely we can see in connection with 3 John and verse 2, where he wishes for him that his health will prosper even as his soul has prospered. Wonderful truth to learn this about this man by the name of Gaius.

So, John, Yohanan, continued to speak to Gaius, in the next verses, verses 5 to 8, there are four things that Gaius was faithful in his service. Notice that, what Yohanan is pointing out about Gaius. The first one that we find out about this man by the name of Gaius, in verse 5, Gaius was a hospitable man. It says in verse 5, You see, remember what I told you, beloved brothers and sisters, that already in the first century, in the early days of the church age, there were itinerant preachers who were passing from home to home. Visiting various brothers and sisters, various assemblies. And so a preacher come to town, he need to stay someplace.

Apparently Gaius says, Come, I'll host you. He brought him into his own home, that preacher. He hosted him, took care of him, provided for him, gave him a place to sleep, fed him, so that particular itinerant preacher can move on to another location. So Gaius was very hospitable. And we find out, in verse 5, he says, Look, beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren. And notice, not only the brethren, but also to strangers. Gaius was a very hospitable man. We have brought Abraham, our forefather, who have hosted the Lord himself and those two angels in this tent. Many, many years ago, over about 4,000 years ago, Abraham, our forefather, have been a hospitable man in the Middle East.

Hospitality is extremely important. And so Gaius was inviting these brothers who were coming to share the word of God, but also some strangers that he didn't know who they were. And you remember what Hebrews 13 says. Verse 1 and 2, Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Now, you know, when we are being guests in somebody's home, we not always behave as angels, right? We're sometimes becoming more like a burden at times we can be. But nevertheless, it is amazing how wonderful to see that Gaius was entertaining. He brought them in. He was hosting them. And John said to him, You have done that faithfully, Gaius.

You have done it faithfully. In verse 5, Thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and also to strangers. Hospitality is very important, beloved brothers and sisters. Of course, we need to be careful in today's society in which we live in, because there's all sorts of things. You remember in the previous epistle, in 2 John, John warned this woman, that elect lady, if you remember in the epistle of 2 John, he said to her, Many deceivers are entered into the world who confess not that Yeshua, the Messiah, is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourself, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

And then he said, Whosoever transgresses and abideth not in the doctrine of the Messiah has not God, he that abideth in the doctrine of the Messiah has both the Father and the Son. And then he said to this elect lady, If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God's speed. We are talking about false preachers who confessed not that Yeshua was God and man in one. The divine person have entered this world by taking union humanity with divine nature. Well, there was a warning to the elect lady not to bring them in, but here we have an encouragement to Gaius for what he was doing.

He was bringing in to his own home those that came to truly, sincerely preach the Word of God. So he was a hospitable man. Secondly, in verse 6, Gaius was also a man who loved God's people. See, God's people are not always lovable, but God's people need love, the love of God, the love of the brethren. And so we read in verse 6, He is saying to Gaius, Gaius, you see, many who pass by your home, whom you hosted in your house, and they continue on to the next place, they bore witness of how you have loved the believers, you love the people of God. They bore witness before everyone about your love for the people of God.

Now, brothers and sisters, the love among the people of God is so important. You see, we live in a world that is so unlovable. We live in a world that is finding itself in many conflicts. There is a hatred here in this world. Satan hates the people of God. And those who follow him do not love the people of God. But if we don't have among the people of God love, as Yeshua said, by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples. If you have loved one towards another, if we don't practice this, we are not showing that we are followers of Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah.

And so it was a beautiful testimony about Gaius, that not only that he was hospitable, but he was a man who loved God's people. And it was evident in the way he conducted himself. And you notice what he did. It says in verse 6, These people who visited you, borne witness of thy love before the church, whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly thought, thou shalt do well. Apparently, brothers and sisters, what Gaius did, those preachers, sincere missionaries, you might call them, Bible teachers, came to his home, he took care of them, he fed them, he put them to sleep, he took care of them, and then he sent them, notice it says here, after a godly thought.

He said if he brought them forward after a godly thought, he provided for their need, and sent them to continue on. You know what an encouragement it was for such a man in those days? When there was so much opposition to the person of Yeshua the Messiah, what an encouragement it was to have a man such as Gaius. And this is an encouraging thing. He took care of the servants of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. But not only that. Look at this, what it says in verse 7. Gaius also was aware of the needs of God's servants. Look what it says in verse 7. Because for his name's sake, they, these are those preachers who came to visit Gaius, went forth taking nothing of the Gentiles.

In other words, these itinerant preachers came to their homes, they didn't go and raise support by the unbelieving world, but they were taken care by the people of God. You see, it says here, they went forth taking nothing of the goyim of the nations, of the Gentiles. You remember Abraham again, in chapter 14 of the book of Genesis. When the king of Sodom wanted to give him, to enrich him, and Abraham said, no, I'm not going to take this from you. You remember after Abraham won the battle, and released the people of Sodom, who lost the battle, he brought them back, and the king of Sodom, and all the things that belonged to the king of Sodom, and the king of Sodom, Sodom in Hebrew, wanted to pay him for that, to enrich him for that, and he said no.

He says no, unless it had been said that I received this gain from you, from the king of Sodom, and he trusted in the Lord. But God provided for Abraham, and it is always such a privilege, to participate in the ministry, by taking care of the servants of our Lord Yeshua, the Messiah. And he says, for the name of Yeshua, for his name's sake, they, those preachers, went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles, of the goyim, of the unbelieving world. And this is important to see, that Gaius was not only hospitable, he did not only love the brethren, but he also was aware, of the need to minister to the servants, of our Lord Yeshua, the Messiah.

Now I can read many verses, Yeshua said, that the labor is worthy of his hire. Even the Lord himself, in the book of Deuteronomy, said, you shall not, muzzle the ox, that work in the field. Humanly speaking, can you imagine, when a servant have an ox, that is working on the field, and when he's coming, to eat something as he works, that he muzzle his mouth, and don't let him eat, and says, no, you can carry on, to do your work. Biblically speaking, we learn from here, that the care of the servants, of the people of God, in those days, they had to learn, that just the same, like in any days, to minister to the people of God, it's not done by force, it's done out of love, and appreciation, for the work of the Lord.

Let me just read you for a second, a passage in 1 Corinthians chapter 9, Paul wrote, to the brothers and sisters, in verse 7, he says, who go to warfare, at any time, at his own charge? Who planteth a vineyard, and it is not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and it is not of the milk of the flock? I say these things as a man, he said, or sayest not the law, the same also, for it is written in the law of Moshe, Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth, of the ox, that treadeth out the corn. Does God take care, for oxen? Well, if he does take care of the oxen, he would definitely take care of his servant.

Verse 10, or sayeth he, it is all together for our sakes, for our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he that ploweth, should plow in hope, and he that threshes in hope, should be partakers of his hope. If we have sown in your spiritual things, is it a great thing, that we shall reap of your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless, we have not used this power, but suffered all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of the Messiah. Paul was writing this to the Corinthians, and he is saying to them in the very same thing that John is saying about Gaius.

Gaius, you were aware of the need of those itinerant preachers, you took care of them when they were passing by. Now notice back, back to 3 John, and this time verse 8, look what he's saying about Gaius. We rather therefore receive such that we might be fellow helpers to the truth. John is saying to Gaius, you see Gaius, this is a commendable thing to do, because what happened with Gaius, even though Gaius was not an itinerant preacher, he remained at home, he did his work at home, but you know what he became? He became a fellow helper to the truth. I read this morning in 1 Samuel chapter 30, Shmuel Aleph, and there David went to fight against the Amalekites.

He had 600 men. 400 of them went with him to fight. 200 of them remained behind. And so when he fought, and he fought against the Amalekites, he brought back all what the Amalekites took from the people of David that he led. And you know, those 400 men who went forward to fight with David, they said to him, no, no, no, no, not all of them. Some of them said, don't give the 200 any of their portion, because they didn't fight with us. David said, no. No, David says in 1 Samuel chapter 30, look what David says, very, very wise statement. David says, as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the staff.

They shall part alike. David says, the one that went forward to fight, and the one that remained behind, both are benefiting from the very same ministry, because what happened here, Gaius became a fellow helper in the truth. And thank God for those servants of the Lord, missionaries who have gone out to many countries, and many places to serve the Lord, whether it is among our Jewish people, or whether it is among the nations of the world, praise God for those Bible teachers, missionaries, servants of the Lord, who go to many, many areas, to spend their time, and their energy, and it is so needful, not only to pray for them, but also practically to support them, so they can continue on, in their ministry, so they can be faithfully doing the ministry, that the Lord has called them to do.

We become automatically, fellow helpers in the truth. And how important it is, beloved brothers and sisters, to hold on to this. So, Gaius, a faithful man, he was hospitable, he loved God's people, he was aware of the need of the servants of our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, and he was commended, because he received godly servants, and had fellowship in their ministry, by supporting them practically. What an amazing person, that Yohanan is presenting before us, in this passage. But then again, notice that, he continued, and he speaks about another man. In verse 9, 10, and 11, he shift, away from Gaius, to another man, he was also part of the, local church, where Gaius had been, local assembly, local congregation.

And I want you to notice, that he says here, six or seven things, about this other individual, his name was, his name was, Diotrephes. He is now ministering, Diotrephes, and notice what he's saying about him, in verse 9. First of all, he says in verse 9, I wrote unto the church, I wrote unto the church, but Diotrephes, who love to have the preeminence, among them, receive us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds, which he doeth, parting against us, with malicious words, and not content therewith, neither does he himself, receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them, that would, and casteth them, out of the church.

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. Now notice, there's beloved brothers, what he says about another man, by the name of Diotrephes. First of all, notice that he had a real problem, that we have to say, we always have to guard against it. He says here in verse 9a, Diotrephes, who love us to have the preeminence. The word for preeminence, is really simply mean, he wanted always to have the first place, number one. Imagine a local assembly, local congregation, and one person said, I'm going to have my way, I'm going to be number one, I'm in charge.

In other words, he placed himself, as a person that was in charge. But notice this expression, it's found three times in the scripture. The word preeminence. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Kohelet, in Hebrew, Solomon, Shlomo, the king of Israel, says that a man does not have preeminence over a beast. A beast dies, a man dies. In this world, an animal will die, a human being will die. There is no preeminence, even though we do have, but really, what Solomon is saying, a man is not preeminence over the animal, because he himself dies. He is finishing here in this scene. That's it. That's the first time it's used in scripture.

The second time it's used in the scripture is in connection with our blessed Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, in the book of Colossians chapter 1, and verse 18. This is a beautiful verse in connection with Yeshua, Jesus, our Messiah. We read, He is the head, namely Yeshua, of the body, the church, the ecclesia, the called out ones, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. You see, beloved brothers and sisters, God wants that we all recognize among the people of God, He must have the preeminence. He is number one. He is the one that's supposed to receive the glory and the honor and the praise from among the people of God.

He is the head of the body and to the body. He have the position of number one, of the first one. But you see, the problem is with us. And apparently, Diotrephes had this problem and we of time have this. If we are not watching ourselves, we always seem to want to be the first one. And you see, when we seek that place and force it, we are actually seeking to take the place of the Lord. He has to be the preeminence among the people of God. He has to be the one that is first. And God desired to see that among the people of God, but here was Diotrephes.

And he said, look, we wrote unto the local church, the local assembly, but there is a problem, Gaius. There is a certain man in this local assembly that you are attending or you are part of. His name is Diotrephes. He loved to have the preeminence among them. You see, Diotrephes was a believer, I understand, from the text because he was part of the local assembly unless he was not a child of God, but it seems to be from the context that he was a believer that did not walk in accordance with the will of God and sought always to have the preeminence. You know, brothers and sisters, how many church groups have splitted over people who want always to take the preeminence?

How many groups of believers have been scattered because instead of being humbling ourselves before the Lord, we wanted to force our own way. I am going to have my way, my will. It is me. It is I. I am number one. And you know, instead of bridging gaps and putting the people together, they have scattered the flocks. And it's not only 2,000 years ago that it happened. It happens today. Many groups of believers are splitting because people instead of humbling themselves before the Lord and seeking to submit to the Lord and to each other, they are forcing their way as diatrophies who love to have the preeminence.

So, look what Yochanan is saying. He shows what diatrophies did to show that he loved to have the preeminence. The first thing that we find out in verse 9b, diatrophies would not receive John. It says in verse 9 at the end, he receive us not. Now, this is Yochanan, the apostle. And diatrophies said, Yochanan, you cannot come here. Those that follow you, those that belong to you, those that you are working with, you cannot come. He does not receive John. Now, you can just imagine what kind of a condition it is that the apostle that had an apostolic authority was not received by diatrophies. Secondly, notice four things about diatrophies.

It says in verse 10a, diatrophies spoke falsely against Yochanan, against John, because it says in verse 10a, wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating, this is bringing false accusation or false charges, he bring false charges against us. Diatrophies was charging John. Now, can you imagine, beloved brothers and sisters, Yochanan, according to what we know from the word of God, has suffered tremendously for the name of Yeshua, the Messiah. The book of Revelation that he received in the island of Patmos was for the testimony of Yeshua, the Messiah. He was banished to the island of Patmos by the Caesar because he was speaking for Yeshua, the Messiah, and testifying for Yeshua, the Messiah.

But diatrophies spoke wrongfully against the apostle John and those that had been serving with him. Thirdly, in verse 10b, diatrophies rejected traveling, ministering brethren. It says, and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brethren. You see, Gaius received the brethren, but diatrophies did not receive the brethren. Here's two men, same local assembly, local church, one of them is commendable as a faithful man, the other one is a domineering man. He wants to be the first one. He wants to have the preeminence. Look at the next thing that we find about diatrophies. Not only that he rejected those traveling, serving brethren, in verse 10c, it says, the diatrophies, he forbade believers to receive those traveling brothers.

It says at the end, and he forbid them that would. In other words, if somebody come to a local church, a local assembly, and diatrophies says, no, we're not going to receive you, but some of the brethren say, you know what, brother, you come to my home, I want to receive you into my home, I will open the door for you, knowing of course that they are truly servants of the Lord. So diatophies was upset with those who were graciously willing to receive those brethren. And then finally in verse 10, it says, diatophies cast out of the assembly those brethren who did receive them. It says here in verse 10 at the end and he cast them out of the church, out of the assembly, out from among the believers.

See what happened? A traveling brother coming, he doesn't take them home, so Yaakov take him home. And then he takes Yaakov and he throw him outside and he says, because you have hosted this individual, you're going to be chasing out of here. And he throw him out. Can you imagine? In other words, he was in charge. He'll tell you who to allow to bring in and who not. You see, it's one thing when you seek to do it with godly care because of false teachers coming and one protecting the believers. It is another thing when one would love to have the preeminence. Taking the place that belonged to Yeshua the Messiah for himself and saying, I am in charge and therefore I'm not going to allow the traveling brothers to come in.

I'm not going to allow Yohanan the apostle come in and I don't want you brethren to allow to receive them and if you will receive them I will throw you out of the local assembly. Imagine, this is a dictator, right? That's not right. It's one thing to have godly care, it's another thing to have one who seeks to have the preeminence. and that's why concerning diatrophies he said, listen, when I come, verse 10, I will remember his deeds which he doeth. You see, John intended to come to Gaios, to come to this local church, local assembly and he was going to speak to these diatrophies and he's going to deal with this issue.

John was not afraid of diatrophies, he said, I'm going to come, I'm going to deal with this but I want you to be aware of this, he's saying to Gaios about the man that is called diatrophies. And brothers and sisters, listen to this, this is extremely important because we need to be careful in a time such as this that we will not allow this to happen in our midst or any local church going to be ultimately losers if they are not going to be careful that such an attitude, ought not to be in the midst of the people of God. Could you please go to Romans chapter 16 verse 17, Paul, Shaul, speaking to the Roman believers and he says, now I beseech you brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Yeshua the Messiah but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. In other words, Paul says, listen, I want you to mark those kind of individual, this kind of behavior, not only to mark them, but also to avoid them at the end of verse 17. you see, these things are not new, it began at the time of the apostles, 2000 years ago, and it's still going on among the people of God, even those days in which we live in today. And we all have to be careful ourselves that we will not become like that if we are acting in the flesh, we are capable to do just the very same thing as Diotrephes have done.

And so back to 3 John. And now in verse 11 he's really saying Diotrephes was doing that which is evil, but you will seek to do that which is good. And that's why he says in verse 11 he says, 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. And by the way, that's why some individuals say that perhaps he was not a believer because he says here, he that have done evil like this, he has not even seen God. That's why sometimes it's being used to apply to the fact that Diotrephes was not a child of God.

But I just want to say he was among the people of God, he was apparently in leadership position, and apparently he was acting in the flesh, and if he's a believer, he hasn't experienced especially enjoy fellowship with God by such a behavior. And John says, follow not that which is evil, but follow that which is good. And may the Lord help us with these beloved brothers and sisters. So, the first man, Gaios, was a faithful man. Verses 1-8 of 3 John. The second man was Diotrephes, he was a domineering man. Verses 9, 10, and 11. And thirdly, to conclude with this ministry meeting, his name was Demetrius. Verses 12, 13, and 14.

And look what we read about him specifically in verse 12, Demetrius was a man that had a good report. It says here in verse 12, Demetrius has a good report of all men and of the truth itself. Yea, and we also bear record, and ye know that our record is true. Now, here is a third man that is found here. He had a good report. You know, we read a few men in the Bible that had good reports. We read about Cornelius. In the book of Acts, in chapter 10, he was a man that had a good report. People knew, he says, ah, Cornelius is a God-fearing man.

And by the way, he was the first Gentile man who became part of the body of Messiah. In Acts chapter 10, Shimon Petros came into his house and you remember, he had a good report. Acts chapter 10, verse 22, and Shimon Petros preached the message of the gospel. Cornelius and his family and all the people that gathered together there accepted the Messiahship of Yeshua and they became part of this assembly. The church, Jew and Gentile, united together in the body of Messiah. There was another man by the name of Hananiah, in English we call, we say, Ananias, in chapter 22 of the book of Acts, he was a man that had a good report.

He was the one that Shaul went to and he was a believer in Yeshua the Messiah. You remember when Shaul was blinded by the light that came from heaven and he was a man of good report. In Hebrew we call it Edut Ne'emana. And so Demetrius had a good report. So wonderful to have a good report. When people hear about us and say, hey, this particular brother, he had a good report. He is sick to be faithful. He had a good testimony. A good testimony. Sometimes, you know, it's not easy to have a good testimony. We need to always check ourselves. But what a wonderful thing to say about Demetrius, a man of good report, good testimony.

And then he concludes after he mentioned Demetrius. He mentioned Diotrephus. He is now closing this letter to Gaius. And he's saying to Gaius in verses 13 and 14, he said to him, I have many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee, but I trust I shall shortly see thee and we shall speak face to face. Peace be unto you. Shalom Lecha he's saying, our friends greet the friends by name. He says, Gaius, listen, I have a lot more things to tell you, but I'm not going to write you anymore. I'm going to make a visit. I'm going to come to see you.

Gaius, I'm going to see you face to face. I'm going to speak with you. I'm going to communicate with you what I have more to say. But until then, he's saying to him, Shalom Lecha, peace be unto you. And please say Shalom to all the friends and our friends here. Greet you and greet the friends by name, one by one. Say to all of them, Shalom, I'm going to come soon and I'm going to make that visit with you. Well, brothers and sisters, let me conclude here with these remarks as we end here in the epistle of John. First John, second John, third John. Every one of these letters were written by these elderly men by the name of Yohanan who loved the family of God.

What do we learn from what John had said? How important for us to have care for the family of God, to minister to the people of God, and definitely not to seek to have preeminence, but to give the preeminence to our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. He is the one that needs to have the place of glory and honor among the people of God. And I can tell you, beloved brothers and sisters, that the time that we give the Lord his rightful place, you and I are going to be blessed. There will be joy in our hearts. There will be ministry to he is the head of the body, he is the head of the church and to the church and may the Lord just help us in all this.

Not to be diatrophies, but to be a faithful man like Gaius or faithful woman like Gaius and a man or woman of good report like Demetrius. May the Lord help us in all this.