Rotten Tators

645.  "Rotten Tators"
November 7, 2012
3 John-Part 3         (verses 9-
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.  3 John 9

LET IT GLOW

Have you ever gone to the cabinet and pulled out a rotten tator (potato)from the bag of potatoes? I have. It is mushy, yucky, stinky, and turned bad. Sometimes it had worms crawling on it, too. I noticed there usually wasn't just one rotten tator, but several were in the bag. Often, few could be kept, thus the whole bag had to be thrown away, usually. Does this happen in churches, I wonder. Can one rebellious person bring down others into their bag of sin?

Today's study seems to focus on a rotten tator, so to speak, known as Diotrephes. John is warning this church about him. In verse 9, John starts out saying that he had written to this church previously.

Exactly what was written, we have no way of knowing, since the letter must have been destroyed by Diotrephes or otherwise lost. Diotrephes measures up as a false teacher, an impostor, (John must have been some kind of supervisor of the churches and local bishops.) (Liberty Bible Commentary)

John publicly and in the eternal Word of God, rebukes a man named Diotrephes by name. the apostle of love isn't acting outside of love. He's following the clear command of the scriptures (Rom. 16:17) and the example of other apostles (2Tim. 4:14-15). Any such public rebuke must be made only when necessary, and we must be careful to not judge a brother against any standard that we ourselves would not be judged. (Matt. 7:1-2)  (Guzik)

Do I stay alert as to a bad influence around me? am I turning to Jesus for discernment?


LET IT GROW

What was Diotrephes' problem?

• Pride was the main sin in this man. He loved to be first, which is what preeminence means(KJV uses). He wouldn't receive the words of the apostles and John. Pride was Satan's problem when he got kicked out of heaven (Is. 14:14). He wanted to be like God. This is the opposite nature of Jesus, who came in the form of a servant. (Boice)
• Gossiping, scoffing, mocking, criticising, were things this man did. Prating (KJV uses) means to talk nonsense. Diotrephes showed what kind of man he really was.
• Discontentment is another characteristic of this man. He refused to receive, welcome, and care for the missionaries himself, and prevented other of doing so. He wasn't happy in what he was doing.
• He kicked out those that would not support his ways from the church.

What a bad example! What a rotten leader! Am I taking notes on this so I won't be like him?

LET IT GO

Watch out for pride. Throw it out when it comes to the door of my heart.

Stay in the Word of God and surrendered to the Holy Spirit.

Be alert to deceivers.