AMY, John writes about a man named Diotrephes, “…who does not accept the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 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.” (3 John 1:9-11) Remember this about Diotrephes, he wanted to be counted as “the top man.” The truth is, the Bible teaches that Jesus, “…is the HEAD of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in ALL THINGS He may have the preeminence (dominance).” (Col. 1:18) No person, regardless of their influence among men, has the right to compete with Jesus. Diotrephes greatly overstepped his authority.
Unfortunately AMY, the spirit of Diotrephes lives on today in the hearts and lives of some disagreeable, overbearing brethren who are bullies. Some of them are gospel preachers, others are brothers who try to elevate themselves to be the chief elder, and yet others are those who try to dominate the decisions and activities in a local church. What can we do? “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but TEST THE SPIRITS, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world…every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh IS OF GOD, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh IS NOT OF GOD. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3) How do we test the spirits? We come together and pray, Jesus said, “…whatever you ask in My name, that I WILL DO, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I WILL DO IT.” (John 14:13-14)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham