Whom do you trust? A study in Jeremiah chapter 5.

Lesson Five (of 52): Whom do you trust?

To watch this on video:

https://youtu.be/WPgOB4y0dkI  

INTRODUCTION

A month ago we began this full-year study of the book of Jeremiah. And the YouTube activity is well in gear; thanks to those of you who are joining our class each week through that medium, after we record and post the lecture part of it. Feel free to share what you are watching with your mates and let me remind you, don’t forget to subscribe. And thanks to each of you who is here live in the Zoom room Friday morning in Sydney. I enjoy how you participate in the Q and A session. This is lively and I appreciate each of you.

Today’s lesson: Whom do you trust?

Here’s today’s sermon in a single verse:

“They have lied about the LORD and said, “Not He; misfortune will not come on us, and we will not see sword or famine. The prophets are as wind, and the word is not in them. Thus it will be done to them!” (.12-13)

I’m writing today’s message while on a trip through Chattanooga Tennessee and Atlanta Georgia. It’s been a great time to catch up with long-time friends and colleagues from years ago, to see my cousin who was like a sister to me when we were youths, and to meet new folks who are Jewish and keen to learn from us. One of the themes I kept hearing from everyone is the question, “Whom do you trust?” It had to do with the deeper question of truth. You know that this is one of the two overarching categories of information we are considering during this year with Jeremiah. There is so much information ‘out there’ and so much mis-information that is designed to confuse… people honestly want to know what’s true; they honestly want to hear truth. I enjoyed meeting with Liberals and Labour. I find value in hearing from the different sides about gun laws and news services. In Messiah, I often say, “there is no Liberal or Labour; no Jew or Gentile; no Georgia Tech or Bulldog; no Blue or Red, no Swans nor Collingwood…” Messiah breaks down the middle walls of our hostility and our dissociation to make of the two—ONE NEW MAN.

Into a very similar situation, between the religious leadership of Judah and Israel, Jeremiah, our Weeping Prophet of 600 BCE or so, speaks. He says that there is a group of people who have been promising a Pain-free, Trouble-free, and seriously God-free life. These religionists have been finding a Bible verse here or there and associating the benefits explained to the activity of listening to them. 

Paul the apostle 650 years later would write this to the believers in Greece “While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.” (1 Thes. 5.3)

Let’s painfully evaluate the 31 verses of chapter 5 and see what they have to say to us, in our world, today, and maybe to help us navigate this silly season, the dramatic season of Advent, the new variant of Covid-19, the year 2022… let’s listen to what God is saying to us, amen?

Verse one… God says, please, go to the streets, look up and down and see if you can find someone, anyone, who has been listening to the Lord and will represent. If you can find one person, I will pardon the Jewish people. That’s an amazing condition, and a comfort. It’s the assurance of God’s presence. Not as the false prophets and teachers would say, “God is on our side.” And thus we have nothing to worry about, but simply, “If we turn from our sins, God will save us.” That’s another matter altogether. 

I so appreciate the discount God seems to be offering in verse 1. Remember in the story of Abraham and Lot, with Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham has a seminal conversation with the Almighty. In that time, the two angels tell our father Abraham that they are going to ‘go down to Sodom

“I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” (Gen. 18.21)

When God comes down to check out the situation, the situation of Sodom and Gomorrah, it’s not going to end well. Abraham knows the life choices and the religion which takes place there and begins a negotiation with his creator.

“Suppose …” I love that. Mel Brooks’ creation of Don Adams as Maxwell Smart couldn’t have sounded it more clearly. What if we find you 50 righteous folks… would that be enough to save the towns? God agrees! “Would you believe 45?....”. then 40, 30, 20, and finally 10. 

“Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.”  As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his place.” (Gen 18.32-33)

That’s from where the notion of the minyan, the religious quorum for prayers of a community, comes. 10 men. You would therefore think Jeremiah would be similarly able to negotiate … maybe if I find you 10 men in Judah, or say, 5 in Jerusalem, would that be enough to stay the execution of your wrath? 

God does Jeremiah one better. Mate, if you find ONE who represents me (I’m assuming besides Jeremiah himself), then that will stay my hand. And even if you find one who uses the phrase in verse two “as the Lord lives”, it’s likely fake.

Craigie says, “he may find people superficially orthodox, who use the proper formula of oaths, but their language is false, a hypocritical veneer covering the lies within.”

What a comprehensive and sad moment in Jewish history. Not one (other) man is righteous and listens to Scripture. Not one Jewish man lives out the Kingdom as described in Tenach. This may be hyperbole, but it’s clear as crystal. The Jewish people were living godlessly, and the rest of the chapter, actually the rest of the book, continues to unpack this reality.

If that be so, then what hope do we have? If we are without any guarantee of salvation, why do we go on? Where do we look for a better day tomorrow?

That’s where you have to get. Until you as a person, until you as a prayer team, until you as a community recognize your comprehensive lostness, you can never look up and find true hope. 

In our day, in our age, we are consumed with deservedness, with entitlements and self-reliance. Until you get to the place where self-reliance is found to be empty, you will never find true hope and salvation. “Unto the hills I will lift up mine eyes, … wait, from whence does my help come?” Until you ask that question, you will never get to the true answer: “My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.” 

God seriously wants to help our people.

God seriously wants to help you.

Listen to what prevents his helping us.

Verse two and three: “O LORD, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, But they have not grieved; You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return. 

The Lord is active in getting our attention. But we knock him back. He has stricken us. We didn’t grieve. In the NASB we read, “we did not weaken.” The Hebrew word is ‘challah’, yes, the same as our Sabbath bread. 

“to be ill, be weak, be faint, become diseased, be wounded; [N] to be made sick, be incurable; [P] to afflict; [Pu] to become weak; [H] to make ill, to cause to suffer; [Ho] to be wounded; [Ht] to pretend to be ill, to feel sick, to entreat, implore, seek favor, intercede”

 By the way, the Sabbath bread was coined as challah in Austria / Southern Germany around the 15^th century. It was the traditional SUNDAY bread of the locals (without the twists), We failed to notice the natural failures of our society and to give credit to the Lord, and to look up.We hardened ourselves instead of softened to the plans and the presence of God.

Friends, when I began in faith in 1971, I thought that this religion in which I newly found myself would require similar actions as my previous Orthodox Jewish ways and mindset. I thought I had to tough it out. This week a friend and I were discussing his father’s views on sin and addictions and such, and as a military man, he said, “Just stop sinning.” Almost the Nike advert “Just do it.” And maybe for some that works. 

But the longer I remain in the Lord, the more I think about weakening AS MY STRENGTH. Admitting I cannot is the only way to gain the strength of God to assist me. 

No wonder we read in verse 3: “You have smitten them, but they did not weaken; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.”

The apostle said, 2Cor. 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Messiah’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Check out the same word for justice in verses 1, 4, and 5. Mishpat. What is just? That’s what God wants you to perform. Bring his justice to your neighbourhood, to your neighbours, to your family, etc. Micah said that. Yeshua said that. 

When?

Matt. 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

Verse six. Then he says the wild animals are coming. Lion, wolf and leopard. All symbols of enemy nations in their power and slyness, or perhaps of wild animals themselves (compare the animals who would assist Israel in the conquest). Either way, destroyers are coming and we disregard them.

How many ways and how many times does God have to attempt to intervene before we stop, acknowledge both him and our sins, and turn to do what he says?

Verse 7. God lists adultery, in both physical and spiritual thinking. What is adultery, by the way? It’s not the sexual act itself; it’s the act with the wrong person! It’s not staying within the bounds assigned by God, and it’s usually due to a lack of heart-felt compliance.

I ponder the four specific outlined sins or especially categories of the people of God in this chapter, and maybe this will help you codify them in your life as well.

Verses 1-6 The people rejected the Lord

Verses 7-9 The people were ingrates, unthankful. Deserving

Verses 10-19 The people DID believe, but not God; they trusted the voice of the false prophets. They were without wisdom; they trusted in horses and chariots. They were self-centered and thus without faith in God. We say, “unfaithful.”

Finally, verse 20-31 The people were complacent and disregarded the voice, the correction, the involvement of the Almighty. Look at verse 31: 

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?

Our sin involves substitution of one deity for the Only Deity. But then don’t miss this phrase. “My people love it so!” Ouch, this is the sharpest and deepest criticism. We love wrongly. We have wrong lovers he told us in earlier chapters. (3.1, 3.20, 4.30, 30.14 (later)) We don’t love God with our whole hearts. We do not love our neighbours as ourselves. The chief commandment is to love the Lord; all else springs from that action and enterprise. 

CONCLUSION

God is calling each of us to know him and to walk with him, today and throughout our days. Have you received Yeshua as your messiah and Lord? Have you renounced your sin, your idolatry, your forsaking God and given him First Place in your life? If not, please, do so now, just now, as we pray together. Use your own words, if you want, but yield, surrender, to the Lord of life. 

PRAYER

Then please write us (admin@jewsforjesus.org.au) to tell us what you have just done, and we will send you literature and encourage you. You are part of our family; we love and appreciate you. And we want you to enjoy the presence of the Lord who calls, who knows, who blesses and builds us up. 

We hope to see you again next week as we study chapter 6, and until then Shabbat shalom!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barnes, Albert, Albert Barnes’ Commentary on the Old Testament, 

Craigie, Peter; Kelley, Page; Drinkard, Joel. Word Biblical Commentary. Book of Jeremiah.  1991. 

Henry, Matthew, Commentary.

Weirsbe, Warren. Be Decisive. David Cook Publishers, Colorado Springs 1991.

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ACTUAL TEXT

Jer. 5:1    “Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, 

And look now and take note. 

And seek in her open squares, 

If you can find a man, 

If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, 

Then I will pardon her.

²  “And although they say, ‘As the LORD lives,’ 

Surely they swear falsely.”

³  O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? 

You have smitten them, 

But they did not weaken; 

You have consumed them, 

But they refused to take correction. 

They have made their faces harder than rock; 

They have refused to repent.

Jer. 5:4    Then I said, “They are only the poor, 

They are foolish; 

For they do not know the way of the LORD 

Or the ordinance of their God.

⁵  “I will go to the great 

And will speak to them, 

For they know the way of the LORD 

And the ordinance of their God.” 

But they too, with one accord, have broken the yoke 

And burst the bonds.

⁶  Therefore a lion from the forest will slay them, 

A wolf of the deserts will destroy them, 

A leopard is watching their cities. 

Everyone who goes out of them will be torn in pieces, 

Because their transgressions are many, 

Their apostasies are numerous.

Jer. 5:7    “Why should I pardon you? 

Your sons have forsaken Me 

And sworn by those who are not gods. 

When I had fed them to the full, 

They committed adultery 

And trooped to the harlot’s house.

⁸  “They were well-fed lusty horses, 

Each one neighing after his neighbour’s wife.

⁹  “Shall I not punish these people,” declares the LORD, 

“And on a nation such as this 

Shall I not avenge Myself?

Jer. 5:10    “Go up through her vine rows and destroy, 

But do not execute a complete destruction; 

Strip away her branches, 

For they are not the LORD’S.

¹¹  “For the house of Israel and the house of Judah 

Have dealt very treacherously with Me,” declares the LORD.

¹²  They have lied about the LORD 

And said, “Not He; 

Misfortune will not come on us, 

And we will not see sword or famine.

¹³  “The prophets are as wind, 

And the word is not in them. 

Thus it will be done to them!”

Jer. 5:14    Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, 

“Because you have spoken this word, 

Behold, I am making My words in your mouth fire 

And this people wood, and it will consume them.

¹⁵  “Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. 

“It is an enduring nation, 

It is an ancient nation, 

A nation whose language you do not know, 

Nor can you understand what they say.

¹⁶  “Their ^aquiver is like an open grave, 

All of them are mighty men.

¹⁷  “They will ^adevour your harvest and your food; 

They will devour your sons and your daughters; 

They will devour your flocks and your herds; 

They will devour your vines and your fig trees; 

They will demolish with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust.

Jer. 5:18   “Yet even in those days,” declares the LORD, “I will not make you a complete destruction. ¹⁹ “It shall come about when they say, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ then you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’

Jer. 5:20    “Declare this in the house of Jacob 

And proclaim it in Judah, saying,

²¹  ‘Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people, 

Who have eyes but do not see; 

Who have ears but do not hear.

²²  ‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares the LORD. 

‘Do you not tremble in My presence? 

For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, 

An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. 

Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; 

Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it.

²³  ‘But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; 

They have turned aside and departed.

²⁴  ‘They do not say in their heart, 

“Let us now fear the LORD our God, 

Who gives rain in its season, 

Both the autumn rain and the spring rain, 

Who keeps for us 

The appointed weeks of the harvest.”

²⁵  ‘Your iniquities have turned these away, 

And your sins have withheld good from you.

²⁶  ‘For wicked men are found among My people, 

They watch like fowlers lying in wait; 

They set a trap, 

They catch men.

²⁷  ‘Like a cage full of birds, 

So their houses are full of deceit; 

Therefore they have become great and rich.

²⁸  ‘They are fat, they are sleek, 

They also excel in deeds of wickedness; 

They do not plead the cause, 

The cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; 

And they do not defend the rights of the poor.

²⁹  ‘Shall I not punish these people?’ declares the LORD, 

‘On a nation such as this 

Shall I not avenge Myself?’

Jer. 5:30    “An appalling and horrible thing 

Has happened in the land:

³¹  The prophets prophesy falsely, 

And the priests rule on their own authority; 

And My people love it so! 

But what will you do at the end of it?

A pastor's concerns: Study in the book of 3 John

1. INTRODUCTION 

Thank to each of you who is joining us in this study of John’s writing which is labelled 3 John. For those on YouTube, if you haven’t yet read this little letter, which is the only chapter of this book, please pause your playback, read the chapter, and then re-join us. Thanks. 

Like always when we turn our attention to a new book of the Bible, we ask the basic questions, who wrote this, to whom, and what are the circumstances that caused the author to write this?

Who and to whom?

The language of the letter is Johanine, without question. The topics include love and truth, information given from the beginning, and false deceivers one of whom is clearly named Diotrephes. It’s all there, and those who have been with us for a few weeks, who studied John’s first letter and last week, the 2^nd letter, will recognize those topics and when you read the 3^rd letter will agree that it seriously sounds like the apostle of love. You are in agreement with most of the commentators out there.  

John then is the author of the book, and he’s the author of the Gospel of John as well as the Book of the Revelation and the other two letters, 1 John and 2 John which we will leared. That’s five of the 27 books of the Newer Testament. Almost 20 percent… that’s significant. 

Now the question of ‘to whom’ did he write this?

The recipient is an individual named Gaius. But before we conclude who this is, note the thrice-used term ‘love’ in the first two verses. A rhetorical question could be asked about the usage, but let me say, John’s heart is showing. He loves Gaius and is writing, as an old man, with deep affection. Last week I was in Kansas City and saw people who were dear to me the last 50 plus years of my life and I get it. There is one word to describe our relationship then, and dare I say now, that word is love. End of story. We loved each other then; we love each other now. 

As for the circumstances of the writing, I will get to that later.

Back to my story from last weekend, when I drove over here to Tennessee, I have spent the last 48 hours with my two daughters and three of my grandsons and the business of love is real. A child doesn’t earn love; a grandchild earns even less. It’s a grandfather’s job to dote, and to express what is natural, and that is one word—love. 

Back to the letter at hand. Gaius is a fairly common Roman name, meaning ‘rejoicing.’ There are three Gaius listed in the Newer Testament. 

(1) Gaius of Corinth, who was baptized by Paul (Rom 16:23; 1 Cor 1:14), and was by tradition the first Bishop of Thessalonica. (2) Gaius of Macedonia, one of Paul’s companions, who suffered in the riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:29). (3) Gaius of Derbe, who travelled with Paul on his last journey through Macedonia (Acts 20:4).

Any of these could be the same Gaius. 

Smalley says, “He was orthodox (cf vv 3–4), influential (vv 5), respected (vv 2, 6a) and of some means (v 6b). Possibly he was also somewhat easily led (cf v 11).”

We really don’t know which Gaius received the letter, but what we know is that he was known and loved by John. And that he had a role of influencer in his community of faith. 

 OK, on to our chapter Let’s dig in.

Verse 1: The elder. John is well-enough known to leave his own name out. Sounds like his use of the phrase “the disciple whom Jesus loved” in the Gospel to self-describe.

When John calls himself ‘The elder’, he’s saying I’m an authority, actually ‘the elder’ (definite article is attached) and probably the senior member of the leadership team that cares for and shepherds the community represented by Gaius.  

Verse one. “Love in truth.” I really like that. In our days love is a word bandied about in social media and in bars and pubs, in the movies and relentlessly in Hallmark cards, but love ‘in truth’… that’s another matter altogether. It is not fairy floss; it is not mushy and sentimental. It implies love of truth and love in spite of the cost of truths. It cries out for sacrificial love like Yeshua demonstrated on the cross at Calvary in Jerusalem and reminds us of how he taught us that He is The Truth. Particular truth is a biblical reality. 

Verse 2. This sounds like a real prayer. A prayer made by a pastor for his children. I am praying along with him for you all. That your spirit and soul and body will be good reflections of the love, the true love of God. For provision and for a good walk. 

In fact, the verb εὐοδοῦσθαι (see also v 2b) means literally, “to be led along a good road,” or “to have a good journey.” Metaphorically it signifies (as in this passage) “to succeed,” or “to prosper” (cf Rom 1:10; 1 Cor 16:2).

Luke uses it to mean “to be well.” (5.31, 7.10, 15.27 (the Prodigal) I love that word. John wants us to be well. To succeed. 

Verse 3: I was very glad. Whatever John had heard from travellers who came along to Gaius’ home, John was well satisfied. And glad. I hope to feel that way after 12 weeks away during this trip abroad. I want to hear of Jewish people coming to the shop. I want to know we are sharing with them the reality of Yeshua and leading some to him, day by day. I want to know that the believers are keeping up financial support and that we are sharing that properly among our staff and others in need. I want to hear that the staff and those on the inside are caring for each other in true love and trying to bring others into that sphere. 

John had heard such news; and it delighted his soul. 

Verse 4, he uses the term “tekna” meaning a dear child, and I wonder if Gaius was not a disciple, or even the result of John’s personal ministry of evangelism. Perhaps John was a spiritual father to Gaius personally. That would help me understand the address in this third letter.

Verse 5. Now he uses ‘brothers’ in the plural. Gaius had practiced hospitality to the many, and that is commendable. I wonder how each of us would rank in terms of welcome and making others feel welcome. That’s something we can always improve, you know?

Verses 5-8 showcases Christian hospitality. And even though John uses the term ‘Gentiles’ in verse 7, I doubt that he’s saying only Jewish believers should host others. I think he’s widening the term to mean those ‘outside the church.’

Years ago I spoke at C3, the Christian City Church, up in Lane Cove. The pastor shared with me a document they use to encourage their leadership in hosting guests in the pulpit. I share some of that historic document now. It may have been edited over time, but you will hear their heart:

Give the speaker enough time to minister. It is very frustrating for me to not have enough time to intro, get in a groove and move in the Spirit and go for souls in less than 40 minutes.

Sing one less song, three is enough. Keep announcements to a minimum. If it is a Sunday service take up your tithe boldly but keep it snappy.

Unless different arrangements are made always give your people a chance to give to the visiting ministry. Take up a love offering!

If it is an overseer or more experienced ministry, ask questions and open the door for them to speak into your life and church.

Ask if they prefer to stay in a hotel or home, give them the option.

Think minimum offering for the speaker. This can be a touchy subject but I would say a minimum for a 500 and under church, $500 per meeting is reasonable. It can go up from

there. No one leaves our church with less then $1000 per service. So it the love offering comes in short I will always top it up. This rarely happens, usually we end up giving more. Perhaps itinerants can be treated differently as they do not have a regular church

wage. The bottom line is that you want your speakers to leave blessed.”

There are many other comments in this one document, but I want you to hear the practical words from this denomination. They have always well treated me over the 20+ years I’ve served in Australia; I commend their comments to you as evidence of how this might work in our days. In John’s writing in verse 6, he might have had such a rider to explain his term “worthy of God.”

Then John turns his attention in verse 9 and following to a man of trouble. His name is Diotrophes. In the Eerdman’s Dictionary, David Rensberger wrote this, 

“Presumably the host of a house church who “liked to be first” over his congregation (3 John 9-10). He refused to receive a message or messengers from the author of 3 John and expelled from the congregation those who did show such hospitality. Nothing else is known about Diotrephes, and his motives are unclear. Some suppose that he was among the heretics mentioned in 1 and 2 John, that he suspected the elder himself of heresy, or that he simply wished to keep this controversy out of his congregation. Others suggest that issues of church structure and authority were involved: e.g., that Diotrephes was an early bishop and that the elder represented an older style of authority; or that the elder held a bishop-like office and that Diotrephes resisted this innovation. In any case, uncertainties over new developments in church authority seem to be involved, particularly troublesome for the Johannine churches with their fundamentally egalitarian tradition. Issues of personal power and honor may also have played a significant part.”

John and others had conflicts with this guy. It’s the First Century. Imagine for all posterity, you have a conflict with an apostle and now the world for 2,000 years and all the billions of people who have read and studied the Bible, yes, through all that, how many people know your name in ignominy. You are ever the bad guy in the story. 

By the way, his name is Dios Trephos. Dios, the Spanish name for God, comes from Zeus. Trephos means nourished by. So Diotrephes means ‘nourished by Zeus’ or even a foster child of Zeus. What a name his parents gave him to show his stature and prominence. He obviously believed in his own publicity!

Verse 11, final comments. Again, beloved. John reminds Gaius of his affection and reminds him of the two men, Diotrephes and Demetrius. Dio… no good. Avoid. Demo…all good. Loving. TRUTH bearing. Good testimony. Martyr-like. 

Choose your friends. Choose your enemies. You decide who will be in your sphere of influence and in your company. If you choose your enemies well, that will help define who is in your world down the road. 

I flashback to the times in the 1970s that were celebrated last Saturday night in Kansas. We had made choices—who was our Saviour? Who was our spouse? Who represented our theological views? Those choices then caused us to flourish AND gave us cause to rejoice almost 50 years later. I’m happy God gave me some Demetrius folks. And he kept me from the Diotrephes team. They looked after their own cause; Demetrius gave himself to others, and so did we. And we in 2021 need to do the same. 

What are you doing to help others today? What are you thinking about viruses or vaccines that demonstrate your care for others? Love your neighbour--- better than you love yourself. Love your neighbour as Yeshua loved you and gave himself for the rest of humanity. How are you treating your next door neighbour? What does love say? That’s how you want to handle this letter in its relationship to you, today. Check in with your accountability partner or with your pastor. Talk though some of the issues you are having with others and say like Tina, “What’s love got to do with it?”

Finally, John ends 3 John as he did 2 John. I want to visit you personally; I don’t want to write you a letter only. What a beautiful sentiment and a snapshot of John’s personal relationship with these folks, headed by Gaius.  And how minimal is his ‘peace’ ending? Actually it’s the Jewish summary of farewell. I wish you peace. It’s the Aaronic benediction in abbreviation.

What do we learn today? 

Yeshua is the one who represents truth and who shepherded the people of God in the Older Testament and into the current age of grace. He calls others to shepherd the people of God and as such John issues a warning to the folks across the region to keep love and truth as the focus of their faith. Stay away from false teachings. Stay connected to the Lord of life and to one another. 

My friends, that’s how I want to live today. And I hope you do also. 

INVITATION

Dear friends, if you’d like to have the forgiveness and the fellowship about which I spoke, you can do so today. Just now you can pray and find that the God of love extends his life to you in giving you pardon for all your sins. That forgiveness will usher you into the freedoms of knowing the God of love. Isn’t that a wonderful idea?

If you’d like that, please pray and ask God to forgive you your sins and to make you born again. 

Then let us know you have done this, won’t you? Write to me (bob@jewsforjesus.org.au) and tell us you have prayed for the first time. We want to send you some literature and welcome you to the family.  

And if you have any questions, use that same address, ok?

And join us next as I will begin teaching the book of Jeremiah. Yes, 52 chapters in a year. I’ve never taught the book line by line, but only preached using the major themes and major sections. This is going to be rich and deep and worth your time investment. Please begin reading the book now and get through it all before we begin on 12 November. OK?

Until then, I wish you all a Shabbat shalom.

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Actual text

3John 1    The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

3John 2   Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. ³ For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

3John 5   Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; ⁶ and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. ⁷ For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸ Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers ³with the truth.

3John 9   I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. ¹⁰ For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church.

3John 11   Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. ¹² Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

3John 13   I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; ¹⁴ but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face.