Reinforcements (Part B)

Isaiah chapter 26 verse 10 C. This is not only a fact ritual. There are just dishonorable despicable people. He got except that hard for people who try to be decent to accept that Isaiah 26 let grace be shown to the wicked.

Yet he will not learn righteousness in the land of uprightness. He will deal in unjustly and will not behold the majesty of Yahweh, who is Christ.

Test. So what are you saying the other people you can bend over backwards one to be kind to them and they will write you nonetheless this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher. Rick asked Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through a special series called truth, love testimony, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. Now here's Pastor Rick and third John chapter 1 as he continues his message called reinforcements he says in here in verse 10, and do not and not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, traveling preachers, we spoke about.

I think verses five and six of the same letter. Those men that would go around and they would not take money from Gentiles and John was dengue issue. You did the right thing taking care of them. Biographies would have none of that. And if you talk then an itinerant, a traveling preacher in your house, you will build it out of the church because he wants the limelight and the flock balked at somebody else's for better preacher than him. He will not have it in first Chronicles when David was being incarnated by all of Israel all the tribes. There are some beautiful snapshots comments about the spirit of unity and obedience in and the troops that came out to parade before their new king and this was one of my favorites. It's first Chronicles 1233, of Zebulon, and if you not familiar. That's one of the tribes of Israel. One of the sons of Jacob of Zebulun, there were 50,000 who went to battle expert in war with all weapons of war, stouthearted men who could keep ranks discipline troops that were armed.

This is what the church is supposed to be.

This is what churchgoers are supposed to be stouthearted, who can keep ranks and don't flee when the enemy shows up. Usually the enemy shows up, not with to make them flee not with grenades and mortars, but to shoeboxes some petty thing; beware of that it doesn't have to be that way and it is certainly not that way with a great many of troops in the in the faith rusted be no good churches. He says he often forbids those who wish to. As I've already commented on we have to be careful that we don't protect heretics by trying to be too nice and kind to them when we are to stand up against them. Again, the authority of these apostles if you show me a cup of some of the says I'm a Christian, but they hold the Old Testament over the New Testament. You have someone who's departed from the doctrine of the apostles we the Old Testament is every bit of word of God's word. But Jesus came along and then he put it under the authority of the New Testament Ephesians 220 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. That's Ephesians 220 and so whenever again the New Testament is attacked.

It is an affront on Christ is handpicked men who he delegated this word to John 1720. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, who wrote most of the New Testament who penned it cost the Lord Jesus is all of it, but he uses describes who probably has 27% there about Paul. If you if you count out Hebrews East. I don't know 25% if you put Hebrews back and he probably will eclipse, Luke, John is about 20% of the New Testament.

It's a lot the gospel of John.

The three letters and in the masterpiece the revelation of Jesus Christ. These men were entrusted with our faith. We believe what we believe because of them. Luke was under the authority of the apostle Paul and all the church because because when Luke wrote and published his materials. The apostles were still alive. Most of them they could have objected, protested, attacked him if there were anything was not trustworthy, but if they do not, because in their authority.

They sanctioned it because it right. He says putting them out of the church again.

The little dictator opponent to the truth. If you attended a church and the pastor started taking a authority in your life telling you you can't marry this person you can have that job you can do this debt that is dictatorship is not being a shepherd. It's Crisco actually called shepherding, and there are some churches that do this and they are wrong they are not because I say so because the Scripture does just give you one. First Peter five, two and three. Peter writing is a shepherd the flock of God that pastor the flock of God which is among you serving as overseers, not by compulsion, but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly, nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock, not lords over them otherwise would be telling you how much money to put into the collection plate bring your paystub and will see if you giving you 10% are not you give 10% to use 90 Burke to a positive. It was biographies that should've been disfellowshipped but again ignorant people are true for those who begin while you know he makes good points.

Have you been one of his barbecues. I mean, just to die for a system that makes questioning the system a punishable offense is not the system we belong to.

That's why we bring a Bible seeking question you would buy the says right here and how did it then added to them with this contest between John and biographies well it ended this way. We remember John is one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament, the beloved of Jesus Christ, the disciple whom Jesus loved, and we remember what's his face. It's unfortunate that there are many modern mostly with the modern theologians that are still in all divided whether the new Testaments, trustworthy, and not in the publishing these books and who are they, what are their names but again name but you can name DL Moody, you name's Virgin received wisdom is justified by her children. Those who I give me a man of God who is filled with the Holy Spirit and has enough intelligence to communicated articulated rather than someone who is overly impressed by intelligence goals of the Gnostics.

Nothing wrong with who we need people like CS Lewis to we need to have some you know sharp cookies in our camp we have them. Paul is one of the greatest but it needs to always be under the authority of the spirit, DL Moody, who did. I don't think he attends 10th grade education brought great revival to this country and instituted all sorts of Bible schools and he was very good at getting these crate teachers these great Bible scholars to come in and develop the word, and so what you had as of this. The system of discipleship you had Moody saving the souls and then you had him directing them.

Pardon me, not my prose. I'm going to sing a song I wrote this one. The other day so you have Moody go get saving the souls with what he had and then you had him put in place a system of discipleship to make them strong and Moody Bible colleges still bears his name. For example, well Hebrews chapter 13 verse seven is forthcoming under the authority that God is put in place the Senate if you are, let's just say you're an auto mechanic I'm your pastor, let's say, I thought I was cute so so you're the mechanic and and you say you have to do this and that. Well I'm going to come under that authority.

I'm going to say okay well what if you are you knowing a doctor or a unit chef or anything and in you is your area of expertise. And I ask you, I'm going to come under that authority.

More than likely eliciting your that I would become well it works the same of the pastor we come to him for pastoring meant business Council for pastoring.

What is the Scripture say tell me thus says the Lord will do has to be coming under that authority for it really work that swipe the writer to Hebrews says we all know it's Paul Celeste is safe. Paul says in Hebrews. Remember those who rule over you. Now, not apart from what Peter said shepherding the flock not lording over them who are spoken the word of God to use faith, follow considering the outcome of their conduct that we have a wonderful system and when it is honored, it works in a rhythm that is unmatched and when it's tinkered with it, you know, starts backfiring and everything goes bad and is that not true authentic when you spark plugs out your car and drive around with Sue Athens versus if you get a started verse 11.

Yeah, I don't really buy cars except how to put gasoline in verse 11. 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. Not that. Remember, this is a letter without verse divisions and so what John is writing here is linked with what we call verse 10. So this is the start or sharp contrasts. He is saying that guys evil. Don't be like him is a beloved, do not imitate what is evil. Otherwise, the sounds random as he saw my doctor resolves an item; being evil. It's directly connected to what he is just mentioned about this malicious prodding fool that has caused this problem in what otherwise would've been a church pastored by a man with a good testimony.

We talked about Gaius last session you cannot show everyone kindness and expect to have the result that you would think you would give response.

You can show kindness to a fully going to be a fool.

Still, Isaiah chapter 26 verse 10 see this not only a fact. But it's ritual. There are just dishonorable despicable people. He got except that hard for people who try to be decent to accept that Isaiah 26 let grace be shown to the wicked. Yet he will not learn righteousness in the land of uprightness.

He will deal in unjustly and will not behold the majesty of Yahweh, who is Christ in the New Testament. And so it is saying the other people you can bend over backwards for him to be kind to them and they will write you nonetheless.

Then there are others in that system problem for that's the were faced with. We don't always know who these people are so it we try we show grace whenever we can show grace. The Lord says this is not working, off, and that's what this fellow shipping. Some folks are you try to tell a nice look, this is got to get fixed and can't communicate do this under on those we just winked at it is gotta be fixed and sometimes a zero.

Let's fix it and other times they will you tell us. We take the Hebrews and show them in the good old submit to cause problems even go online and if they are so mean to me. I love tell the whole story. No writer writer moving on Rachel. John turned his attention to the faithful. In verse 12. Now we look at Demetrius as a good testimony from all and from the truth itself and we also bear witness and you know that our testimony is true.

So now I didn't even introduces another characters of Guthrie and another in the Greek names of you not familiar with them can be a little confusing.

Doctor fees bad guy Gaius good guy Demetrius. Another good guy and so now he brings introduces the Demetrius is not a random mention. It appears like it if you don't you know not familiar with it is that why would it just all Demetrius has a good testimony or not Edgar or somebody else to buy just him, but he's the courier is the one that is taken the letter to Gaius because Dr. fees intercepted the other one. Johnson is not going to do that again. This letter will get there and the sharp contrast between Demetrius and Gaius were not Gaius Dr. fees where he says he has a good testimony as opposed to the actual well Satan, of course, made a mistake a tactical mistake by having his flunky intercept the first letter. It was then replaced by her spirit breed anointed or inspired New Testament document known as third John we would not have third John had he not intercepted the first letter so that plan backfired.

Satan is not know everything.

He does not win everything is not always get it right. And here is another example of that hell could not destroy this letter went to the right man.

It was published. It was kept in circulation. The whole town knew John the apostle thought about diopter fees. Usurper and he knew because a man named Demetrius was trustworthy enough to take it to another trustworthy man named Gaius. So God said to John old man, you do not have to travel and Demetrius I'll use that.

And so this letter its destiny was to become part of what we know is our Bible, New Testament, a monument to the truth. The grass withers, the flowers fade with the word of God stands forever.

No other religion can make that statement only can say is going to happen when we are delivering.

He says, and from the truth itself. Don't worry. I know if you think I'm running late and got another hour so your fine thank you and from the truth itself.

This is again but put that back in context. Demetrius has a good testimony from all and from the truth itself.

So whether that people are just things like Demetrius, they were saying. Not only do I like this guy but he is solid and the word is an upstanding believer. He adheres to the things of Christ. He follows acts 242. Truth produced this kind of a man Demetrius Gnosticism produced a diopter fees kind of man and we find it is no difference to this day you doesn't take long to find out someone is filled with the Holy Spirit loves the word of God versus someone who was up to something. Using religion to do it are very ignorant about these things.

So now there are two faithful men to face diopter fees union opposition in ministry can make you not want a minister makes no want to serve. That's just one of its properties in all his bad food makes you sick and but the sun enough to knock us out of the box and thought about everybody who serves in Christ, not just pastoral ministry opposition can make you not want to serve yet reinforcement from those like Demetrius make us defy opposition strengthens us a threefold cord. It is, it's when you need to really lift some heavy stuff you you you move from okay if you putting up white things a user of what's called a whip on the crane 11 strand one cable and a big ball when you need to lift something heavy you given that ball you bring in a block and you start running the sheaves with cable and to you make it very strong for that's what was happening in the days of Ecclesiastes. When they were building.

All of these you know temples they had to have the rigging they knew that they had to strengthen, reinforce the cables. So Ecclesiastes 412 again the one may be overpowered by another. You two can withstand him a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

So now we have the brothers and sisters who are in the church with Gaius.

That's one cord we have Gaius himself. That's two and now we have Demetrius sent from the apostle John we have the threefold cord of reinforcement. He says, and we also bear witness Johnson's.

I know this guy have seen him and I'm telling you he's all about the truth and the Lord interesting. We are witnesses of Christ were never called lawyers of Christ.

I know that is something to applaud. Getting again just in case you not familiar with. There are great lawyers in Christ we benefit from them and there are great lords. I advocate for Faith we advocate advocate that ministry of you not familiar with them out the sanctuary make a left and an immediate left and there's a bulletin board.

Two of them there actually and you can familiar become familiar with that ministry there lawyers take to court those who attack our freedoms to preach Christ at where was I okay he says. And you know that our testimony is true. So to summarize this true testimony about Demetrius. We have delightful Gaius.

We have, of course, destructive, diopter fees and we have this dependable Demetrius that is alliteration all those D's delightful, destructive, and dependable first 13 I have had many things to write but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink from a man who wrote the gospel going to Jonathan will write the revelation of Christ those again to masterpieces of the New Testament and is is saying listen I have a staff customer say that should be the way it is when we have the word to preach verse 14, but I hope to see you shortly and we shall speak face-to-face peace to you. Our friends greet you greet the friends by name. Gaius was evidently the kind of man that John was, not ashamed to say out loud is looking forward to seeing I would like to have that kind of an honor should not we as Christians be like that where the other person sees us. I'm glad to see I'm happy to see you twice going to come to see me without an appointment.

It doesn't work well but with an appointment. I'm happy to see you as some jokes assuming it's it's okay diopter fees. On the other hand was not an honorable man and John wanted to see him face-to-face to but for other reasons. What a disgrace. So we have honorable Gaius and of course disgraceful diopter fees and you can read that were not this knowledge and without saying where my on the scale of honor and dishonor how how do I behave in a church and I up to something I want to take power in my trying to you know promote myself as diopter fees because again it happens quite frequently says our friends greet you greet the friends by name/church to church.

This church not extended love and it's greeting to you and then he says greet the friends by names which indicates that John knew people in this church that he had some roots. There may be started. Don't know what. Apparently he knows to some of the believers so in looking at this third letter, especially this last section will I going to be on the battlefield on on this battlefield. My going to be the troublemaker usurper when I can have my way because the yield had towed a W-2 is that it so perfectly. The flesh is good-natured when I can have its way and if you nobly that have a baby because they're very good-natured when they get their way or are you going to be a faithful servant, as was both Gaius and Demetrius, particularly Demetrius, who was faithful reinforce came alongside someone that you know help this ministry out so close with this example of the two is from that familiar passage in Exodus 17 when Joshua was on the battlefield. Jesus is on the battlefield and because Joshua means Jesus. Of course, but this Joshua fighting the Amalekites, the flash, the evil that comes through it and's life and death struggle and Moses is praying for Joshua on the field he got his arms lifted when he gets weary so they put a stone under him and then at the holders arms are apparent and a man named her.

Incidentally, when I read this winter read it to deal with that name her to just remind us the difficulties that translators have in putting together our old and new Testaments, preserving its meaning. Over the centuries, and in this will provide it, wanting small example, but Moses Exodus 1217 versus 12 and 13 but Moses has became heavy so they took a stone, put it under him and he sat on it and Aaron and the man name her see if I just said Aaron, and her you pursue who she so you see the translators of the deal with idioms like this in names so back to this and Aaron and a man name her supported his hands, one on one side, one on the other side and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword see how the picture there of the enemy defeated by the word of God. The people of God reinforcing one another on the battlefield beside whom I going to be in this picture Amanda Malik item I had about Dr. V Dr. fees is on your side is going to shoot you in the back is called friendly fire. Well anyway that's our discussion of diopter fees in character not lose sight of course the other characters I started to name the study something diopter despot.

Why should he get frontline billing is the creep in the story. Thanks for listening to cross reference radio today cross reference is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia.

If you're interested in more information about this ministry, you can visit our website cross reference radio.com. You'll find more of Pastor Rick's teachings available. We also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you become aware of each new addition of cross reference radio. Just search for cross reference radio iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast. You can also follow the links across reference radio.com. Glad we were able to spend time with you today to the next time to continue learning more this year. Truth love test here on cross reference radio