With only 14 verses, John’s third Epistle is amazing. In it we meet four men, some better known than others.

In verse 1 the “elder” is the human author of the Tract, John the Apostle we believe. (The Holy Spirit is the Real Author of all Scripture! But He does use humans in the process.) By Apostle here I mean John the ex-fisherman, John the Disciple, of course.

Verse 1 also presents to us a man named “Gaius.” He is a Believer in Christ Jesus who loved to show hospitality to fellow Christians, especially those who traveled and preached the Word of God.

Then by verse 9 we meet the “rotten apple” of the Assembly! His name is “Diotrephes,” and he loves to “boss” everyone at Church, including the preacher! An “autocrat” of sorts!

Lastly, verse 12 focuses on a man named “Demetrius.” He is, simply stated, a lover of the Truth!

Apparently one local Church!

But four kinds of men!

A builder, a lover, a dictator and a teacher!

John, Gaius, Diotrephes and Demetrius!

Which type are you?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

My lesson title comes from one of Jesus’ Parables. One of His “Kingdom Parables” nonetheless!

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the BIRDS of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.” Matthew 13:31-32

“Birds of the air,” sponsored by the “prince of the power of the air,” the devil himself!

We are being taught that not every “religious person,” even every “good person,” is saved!

Listen to Jesus … “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23, religious but lost!

The growth of the so-called “professing” Church has truly been exponential, rapid and prolific, like the mustard seed in the Parable. (Remember, professors are not always possessors!)

And so indeed, organized “religion” in this world has become big business! a huge, sprawling tree!

But then look again, with the lucid brevity only Jesus could use, “birds” have come and lodged in Christendom’s (those professors again) limbs, branches.

And these birds are evil!

They represent the word of the devil!

As here in an earlier Parable of our Lord. “Jesus went out of a house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the FOWLS came and devoured them up …” Matthew 13:1-4, the birds stealing the Gospel seed. Again, the work of the devil!

So in our day, organized “religion” has reached a gigantic size … but it is infested with demons and false prophets and false brethren! (Those fowls, those birds, as I’ve repeatedly said.)

And in Revelation 17 we finally see (through Bible prophecy) the false Church (Mother of Harlots) destroyed, massive as she is! Wealthy as she is! Sinful as she is!

Dirty birds, for sure!

Yes, much of “religion” today supports every form of sin imaginable!

Come out from among her and be ye separate!

Follow Jesus!

Stay pure!

Go to a Bible-preaching Church!

I am not interested in these wicked birds, just give me the sweet, pure Dove of the Holy Spirit!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Jesus’ very next Matthew 13 Parable repeats the same “sin in the false Church” scenario!

Study it too … “Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” Matthew 13:33, leaven being a picture, symbol of sin!

.

In our video Bible Class we have recently been studying the Book of Revelation. In chapters 17 and 18 we met a woman, a harlot. She pictured both false religion and anti-Christian finance, government. In both cases (as Church and as State) she was lavishly wealthy!

This entity/system was “loaded” with … “the merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves.”

Apparently, she could never get “enough!”

Even the Church at Laodicea in Revelation 3 (which apparently yet possessed potential for our Lord) claimed … “I am rich and increased with goods” … yet we all know she was spiritually bankrupt! Her yearning for more had robbed her of true riches, the things of God.

At least once Paul warned his Preachers about this “How much is enough” temptation!

In 1 Timothy 6:10 … “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith ….”

Well really then, HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

Written to a young Preacher, I again remind you … “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:8

But is this a real problem, spiritually speaking?

It might be!

In Colossians 3:5 Paul linked “covetousness” with the horrendous sin of “idolatry!” Look … “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is IDOLATRY.”

By the way, that noun for “covetousness” is (in Greek) spelled “pleonexia.” It literally means (“pleon” = MORE and “exia” which is a form of the verb “echo” = TO HAVE AND HOLD ONTO!) more, lots more, more and more!

Idolatry?

That’s serious sin right there, for sure!

One might even advance the idea that if a Christian has JESUS … He has it all! Or, as the old hymn writer, worded it … “And the things of the world will grow strangely dim, in the Light of His Glory and Grace.” The Name of that Hymn? “TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS!”

JESUS IS ENOUGH!

JESUS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH!

WHAT A SAVIOUR!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Yes, some Passages are easier to understand than others. And I am speaking about Holy Spirit inspired (and taught) Areas of Scripture.

On the Book level (there being 66 of them), the Chapter level (there being 1,189 of them), and the Verse level (there being 31,102 of them) … “challenging” Places can be found!

So, what do I do?

Quit studying the only Book God wrote?

Not an option!

Criticize or correct His Book, to make the hard places “easier?”

Not me!

Ask for Wisdom?

Sure, sounds like the best choice!

Even Peter had trouble at times when reading Paul!

2 Peter 3:15-16 … And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Here is my “go to” Prayer when faced with such challenging Sections of God’s Word …

“Lord, open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Psalm 119:18, memorize this!

“Milk” for babies, “meat” for the more mature … that’s how the Apostle Paul illustrated the “comprehension level” of various Portions of God’s Word! See 1 Corinthians 3:2 for an example. “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”

The “Anvil” of God’s Word is eternal … the “hammers” of criticism, all sooner or later pass away.

You know what?

There just may be Slivers of the Bible I might never understand, not on this earth anyway.

But that fact will not shake my faith in the Author of that Word! After all, He is Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy n29:29

.

As many of you know, for years now the Lord has allowed me to preach a Revival Meeting each week. Recently in these Services I have been focusing on Paul the Apostle. (I should say focusing on him again!) He is certainly one of my heroes!

I think no one else (except our Lord) exudes this type of devotion, reverence, worship … “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21, King James Version.

Such sentiment is only the result of God the Holy Spirit filling one’s life and controlling one’s very being!

In these dark (and darkening) days of apostasy, departing from the Christian faith … this Paul-like adherence to our Lord Jesus Christ is going to be essential.

My I encourage you this morning to pray Psalm 119:18 in regard to our Text verse? Ask of the Lord this request … “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

The deeper we plumb the meaning of such profound (on the surface simple, agreed) verses as Philippians 1:21 … the more we learn and the more we feel challenged by its example.

Here it is again … “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

This much I know already … Jesus is worthy of such loyalty, such obsession, such glorification!

This much is certain as well. If I can (via the Holy Spirit’s Aid) implement the verse’s first half (“to live completely for Christ”) … the latter half will come to pass … “gain” or reward or satisfaction upon death!

A godly old Preacher used to say … “Never sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.”

Live for Jesus, with Jesus today.

And some tomorrow, the day you die, will indeed be a blessing, a promotion, maybe even a coronation!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.