What the Cross Means to You

Notes: What the Cross Means to You

Pastor Greg Laurie

Harvest OC

Thursday - April 17, 2014

John 19

During the days of Jesus, the cross was a symbol of shame, warning, and terror.

Jesus had to die because there was no other way to satisfy the righteous demands of God.

Calvary shows how far man will go in sin and how far God will go for man’s salvation.

Isaiah 53:10 NKJV

[10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

Romans 8:32 NKJV

[32] He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Romans 3:25 NKJV

[25] whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

Isaiah 53:10 NKJV

[10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

Jesus said 7 statements from the cross, the first was. "Father forgive them for they no not what they do."

Read: John 19:25-27 NKJV

[25] Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. [26] When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" [27] Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

How the cross impacted four different people:

1. For Mary Magdalene, the cross was a place of redemption.

She was under the power of demons before Jesus set her free.

Luke 7:47 NKJV

[47] Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."

2. For Salome, the cross was a place of rebuke.

James 4:3 NKJV

[3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

3. For Mary, the mother of Jesus, the cross was a place of reward.

Luke 1:47 NKJV

[47] And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

Jesus was not Mary's child, she was his.

John 19:26-27 NKJV

[26] When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" [27] Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

Pastor Greg believes that Jesus was talking about her son, John.

4. For John, the cross was a place of responsibility.

Jesus' own family didn't believe in Him, until he rose from the dead. If Jesus couldn't get his family to believe, do you think you have a chance?

It is said Christians are a walking epistles, written by God and read by man.

John 9:5 NKJV

[5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Matthew 5:14 NKJV

[14] "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

You represent God to this world.

John 8:29 NKJV

[29] And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

John 16:32 NKJV

[32] Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

Isaiah 53:4-5 NKJV

[4] Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. [5] But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Read:

John 19:28-29 NKJV

[28] After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" [29] Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.

“It is finished!”

Tetelestai

Romans 14:12 NKJV

[12] So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

1. Finished were the horrific sufferings of Christ.

2. Finished was Satan’s stronghold on humanity.

(Hebrews 2:14 NKJV

[14] Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,)

3. Finished was our salvation.

(Isaiah 53:6 NKJV

[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.)

There is nothing you and I could do to improve on Jesus' work. We are right before God because of what He has done, not what we have done.

What is the cross for you?

Palm Sunday: The Real Story

Notes: Palm Sunday: The Real Story
Pastor Greg Laurie
Harvest OC
4/13/2014
Luke 19:37-48

What makes you mad? Everybody really gets ticked off by something…Greg is cranky when he is hungry. His list includes: Cell phones, texting, why does it when a person has a phone with the loudest ring they always let it ring 8 times. Or people that always leave the blue tooth piece in their ear. When people text while they are talking to you. Other things are when people don’t drive when the light turns green. People who don’t pick up after their dogs. ATM women do not have their card ready to go when they are standing in line. Those things anger Greg.

What angers you?

I write letters and don't send them.

Bad tempered people are 3 times more likely to have heart attacks.

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin”:[a] do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Luke 19:11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.

2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

If God’s people live the way they should, it will affect every area of culture.

If a nation wants revival and spiritual awakening, it starts with the church.

Jesus did not come as a military, economic, political, or social Savior. He came as a spiritual Savior from sin and death.

The incarnation was for the purpose of the atonement. The birth of Jesus was so there would be the death of Jesus.

Read: Luke 19:37-44 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” 41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Roman heroes rode donkeys after they came home from winning a battle, but the Jews saw Jesus on a lowly donkey. The two different groups looked at him on a donkey in two different ways.

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.

Luke 19:38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Romans 9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

Many question God, say they need to forgive God. That is not acceptable, God is God and you are not. You need to hang on to God, not turn your back on God.

A faith that can’t be tested is a faith that can’t be trusted.

A faith that can be lost, is no faith at all!

God is able to do what He please with whomever He chooses, whenever He wishes.

Unbelief and rejection breaks Gods heart. Even of the wicked.

“He saw the city and wept over it.”
(Luke 19:41Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,)

Read: Luke 19:45-48 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,[a] 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is[b] a house of prayer,’[c] but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” 47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

This situation angered him. He cleaned out the Temple twice. Jesus did a violent thing when he over turned the table, not violent to others, but in action with the table. It was for illustration;

Mark 11:15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

Just as the temple needed to be cleansed a second time, sometimes so do we.

Jesus is also meek. Meekness is not weakness, it is power under restraint.

Isaiah 56:6-7 NKJV "Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants- Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant- [7] Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."

The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints!

When a church or Christian keeps a person away, that makes Jesus angry.

Are you a stepping stone to Christ or a stumbling stone. Are you a bridge or are you a barrier to Christ?

1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

You don't need to clean up your life to go to Christ, you need to go to Christ to clean up your life.

Controlled Burn

Notes: Controlled Burn

April 3, 2014 Pastor Levi Lusko 

When you get up high you can always see more. The space station gets to see 17 sun rises a day and we only see one.

If we want to see what God sees then we need to get up high and see from his perspective c

2 chronicles 6 and Acts 2

King David wanted to build God a home. God really didn't care, God told David that his son Solomon would actually build it for Him. So David prepared things for Solomon.

2 Chronicles 6:41-42 NIrV

[41] "Lord God, rise up and come to your resting place. Come in together with the ark. It's the sign of your power. Lord God, may your priests put on salvation as if it were their clothes. May your faithful people be glad because you are so good. [42] Lord God, don't turn your back on your anointed king. Remember the great love you promised to your servant David."

2 Chronicles 7:1-4 NIrV

[1] Solomon finished praying. Then fire came down from heaven. It burned up the burnt offering and the sacrifices. The glory of the Lord filled the temple. [2] The priests couldn't enter the temple of the Lord. His glory filled it. [3] All of the people of Israel saw the fire coming down. They saw the glory of the Lord above the temple. So they got down on their knees in the courtyard with their faces toward the ground. They worshiped the Lord. They gave thanks to him. They said, "He is good. His faithful love continues forever." [4] Then the king and all of the people offered sacrifices to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV

[19] Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? [20] For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Romans 8:9 NKJV

[9] But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

John the Baptist speaks of Jesus and how important it is in all 4 gospels.

Acts 2:1-6 NKJV

[1] When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. [5] And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. [6] And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

"If Gods going to live somewhere He will always fill the house with warmth"

5 things he would like us to take from tonight's message.

1. To fight fire we must be on fire.

In nature fires happen often but they are small fires, they sort of purge the system. We don't let that happen any more and that is why we have mega fires.

Many Environmentalist believe controlled burns are the way to stop the mega fires.

Suicide is the number 3 killer if kids now.

Our only hope to help the hurting is Jesus bring hope and healing and help.

We can't plan for salvation we have to trust God for it.

2. The devil can't burn what's already burning.

Hot Shot fire fighters, "bring the black to the fire." It can burn what's already burned.

The devil hates you, he wants to burn you spiritually.

We have to light ourselves on fire with God and that keeps the devil away.

What ever God starts the devil opposes.

When you are in fire from God, trials can't burn you, sins can't stick to you.

Acts 4:31 NKJV

[31] And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

3. Neglect is abuse too.

The Holy Spirit should not be abused, it should not be blamed for bad things people do. Neglect is abuse also.

The Holy Spirit can be looked at as weird, but lots of the things in the Bible are weird. From God saying let there be light, to us being saved by a crucified carpenter, yet we believe.

4. You don't have to be this tall to ride.

Acts 2:39 NKJV

[39] For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

The only prerequisite to being saved is to have bowed our knees to The Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no other requirement.

Young people are not the church of tomorrow, they are the church of right now. They can take their place and change the world.

5. The problem isn't the supply, but the demand.

Luke 11:11-13 NKJV

[11] If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? [12] Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? [13] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

If we have not it is because we ask not. Or we ask amiss.

How many times have you not listened to the Holy Spirit speaking to you and woke up in the morning feeling good about what you did?

What Happens Beyond the Grave?

Notes: What Happens Beyond the Grave?
Harvest OC
Pastor Greg - March 30th, 2014
Studying John 5:25-29/Revelation 20

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment

Only those who are prepared to die are really ready to live.

After the grave, you continue to live.

Read: John 5:25-29 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

1. Death is not the end of existence.

2. There is a final judgment.
(Acts 17:30-31Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”)

2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment

Matthew 12:36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

The fact that there is a future judgment assures us that ultimately God is fair.

Studies show that people who forgive will live longer, knowing there will be a judgement should make it easier to forgive.

Every wrong in the universe will be paid for, by believers Jesus paid for it at the cross. The non-believer will pay for it a judgement.

Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord.

3. There are two forms of existence beyond the grave.
(John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.)

There are two forms of resurrection, one for the just and one for the unjust.

Read: Revelation 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a[a] thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

True believers will experience a just resurrection, you will immediately go into the presence of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8-9 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What type of bodies will we be given in heaven? According to 1 Corinthians 15:42-43 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.

If you are disabled or in pain on earth, you will not be in heaven.

Heaven is the earthly life of the believer glorified and perfected.

Our minds and memories will be clearer and better then ever before.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

When Jesus appeared after the resurrection, He ate fish, He showed up on other sides of doors, He ascended to heaven.

In heaven we will know one another.

We shall “know fully” even as we are known.
(1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.)

The desire to sin will be gone. Heaven is the reunion and the reconnection. Death breaks ties on earth, but is a reunion in heaven.

Luke 24:39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

4. Do people in heaven know what is happening on earth?

Your loved ones do not speak to you from heaven. There are arguments that those in heaven do know what is going on down here in heaven.

Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

This is an interesting scripture because it speaks of an awareness of time in heaven and that those in heaven are aware of the suffering on earth.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It is not true to say that there is no sadness or tears in heaven. In Revelation 5 they speak of weeping in heaven. They also speak of wiping away tears in heaven. A chronology, if a Christian dies they go to heaven, then they come to earth with God during the second coming. In the new Jerusalem all of the tears and suffering will be gone.

In heaven we will have a different perspective, so even though we might understand people on earth are suffering with our perspective, being the same as Gods, we will not need to be sad. Our knowledge and perspective will put us in a better place.

The first resurrection is the rapture of the church.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

When a Christian dies you go straight to heaven, we do not get our glorified body until after the rapture.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Will we see out loved ones again? 1 Thessalonians 4:17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Death is the great separator, but Jesus Christ is the Great Reconciler.

There will be a judgement for Christians in heaven, this judgement will be like a reward ceremony, not a determination if you get in or not:

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Matthew 6:4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Our presence in heaven is guaranteed by God’s promise, but our position in heaven is earned or lost by the quality of service we offer.

God has given all of us, time, treasure and talent.

You will be held accountable for what you could do, not what others could do.

To the nonbeliever, God will ask, “What did you do with Jesus Christ?”

To the believer, God will ask, “How did you glorify and serve Jesus Christ?”

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

The second resurrection comes after the thousand years.

Revelation 20:13-14 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

If you believe what that says, then you should let it affect your life.

Pastor Greg said he is going to heaven! Are you?

The Good, the Bad, and the Godly

Notes: The Good, the Bad, and the Godly

March 27, 2014 

Pastor Jeff Lasseigne

Harvest OC 

Tonight's text: 3 John

It has been said that the church wouldn't have any problems if it wasn't for all the people.

3 John 1:1-8 NKJV

[1] The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: [2] Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. [3] For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. [4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. [5] Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, [6] who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, [7] because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. [8] We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

1. The Good

Gaius the diligent- John calls him beloved and in the the truth.

Many are doing well spiritually but very poorly physically. It is better to have this then the opposite.

The spiritual is more important, but physical health is important and should be prayed for.

The word "truth" is used four times in the first four verses. Gaius is describe this way.

He walks in truth and walk in genuine works

James 2:26 NKJV

[26] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

3 John 1:6 NKJV

[6] who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,

Gaius operated in a God like manner.

Matthew 10:39-42 NKJV

[39] He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. [40] "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. [41] He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. [42] And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

2. The Bad

Diotrephes: the Dictator

3 John 1:9-11 NKJV

[9] I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. [10] Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. [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.

In the church we are either part of the problem or part of the progress.

Learning from a bad example:

1. Don't seek to promote yourself.

Don't be the big shot, that makes you struggle with pride.

Mark 10:38 NKJV

[38] But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"

2. Don't resist authority.

You can't get away from it.

Spureon said - A man who will not do well in his present place because he wants to be higher, then his current place is already too high.

3. Don't put others down, to build yourself up.

Winston Churchill - We are masters of the unspoken words but slaves of the ones that we let slip out

4. Don't be vindictive.

Making people guilty by association.

Don't be upset by others success.

Root, pray, help one another. Diotrephes did not do these things.

He was kicking people out of the church for being hospitable. 3 John 1:10 NKJV

[10] Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

5. Don't get yourself on God's list. Proverbs 6

A list of things from Proverbs that God does not like. Pride, a lying tongue, a heart that devises wicked plans, be swift into running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, he who sells discord among the brethren.

Speaking of Bobby Jones, he would not give up his integrity. Told the story of when he lost the US Open because he gave himself a stroke for touching the ball even though no one saw it.

3 John 1:11 NKJV

[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.

3. The Godly

Demetrius: The Dependable

3 John 1:12 NKJV

[12] Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.

1. Be part of the progress, and not part of the problem.

2. Truth and love must wok together.

3. We share in the rewards of those we help.

4. Always lean on prayer.

5. Use your spiritual gifts.

"True repentance is seldom late, and late repentance is seldom true."

Romans 10:9-10 NKJV

[9] that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.