Protection from Deception 3John 1:11
Didn’t Want to Preach This Text
I pray that every Pastor, Preacher and Teacher who stood to proclaim what thus saidth the Lord was obedient and yielding to the Spirit as I was forced to be.
Everyone Has A Comfort Zone
Personally I am not a last minute, Saturday sermon or “Saturday Sermon Special” kind of preacher. God usually allows me to know days or weeks in advance what Text I am suppose to minister on any given Sunday. I had known for weeks I would be sharing with the New Covenant Baptist Church family in South Bend, Indiana, yet God still hadn’t spoken to me about what to share.
Totally bothered by this unusual week of meditation I called my Pastor to complain about how God was treating me. Tuesday passed and still no Scripture. Wednesday and Thursday came and I had nothing.
Friday, I called Pastor Owens again and asked if I was supposed to “warm-up some soup?” (Hey, I’ve been preaching, teaching and pastoring for well over a decade – I have a file of messages – but I’d been praying for a fresh Word for New Covenant). Owens in his wisdom said “oh my, the Lord truly is going to bless you and New Covenant on this Sunday.” (It’s good to have a Pastor - better yet a brother in ministry to who you can vent…). I took those words to heart and continued to pray and study. Suddenly early Saturday morning God spoke and took to me 3John 1:11.
Preaching Out of Obedience Got Two People Saved
We live in a world where daily people are being deceived. Just look at how Bernard Madoff has made off with many peoples money. Madoff, deceived famous and not so famous people into believing that he was the one they should trust with major life investments. You expect people to trick others into surrendering power to them in the world, but not in church. Our text focuses on a man in the Church who deceived members into believing that they should follow him. Give him the power to make their decisions. He didn’t negotiate for the people’s money, his deception was for position of power.
Well how do I protect myself from being deceived (especially in the house of God)? Yea, believe it or not we have to know how to gain protection from deception as a member of the Body of Christ. There are some people in church who are more concerned about having a position of power than presenting the power that comes from preaching God’s Life changing Word. So let me share with you this simple outline on how to have “Protection from Deception”.
1. Prepare yourself with the Truth – although our message comes from 3John…our writer, the Apostle John, also wrote the Gospel of John and declared in John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Then in verse 14 the Word becomes flesh…that same flesh declared that He is the way, the truth and the life. So we prepare ourselves by learning the Word or learning the Truth.
2. Practice the Truth – 3John 1:6 John gets reports that his “…children walk in truth.”
3. Partner with the Truth –3John 1:8 John encourages partnership “…that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.”
4. Perceive the Truth - 3John 1:11 John illustrates we have to know the difference between an evil leader and a good leader “…follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.”
The Word teaches us to try the Spirit by the Spirit. When you find that someone is trying to pull you into a Clique at Church try the Truth by the Truth. Check the person’s words by the Word and I guarantee that the Word will show you the Way. The Word which is the Way, the Truth and the Life will always provide Protection from Deception.
(Special thanks to Pastor Ray Owens for his contributions to this Sermon Outline and Scriptural Observation – I honestly have never had a preaching brother demonstrate such an unselfish eye and willingness to remind another of his preaching gifts).
I pray that every Pastor, Preacher and Teacher who stood to proclaim what thus saidth the Lord was obedient and yielding to the Spirit as I was forced to be.
Everyone Has A Comfort Zone
Personally I am not a last minute, Saturday sermon or “Saturday Sermon Special” kind of preacher. God usually allows me to know days or weeks in advance what Text I am suppose to minister on any given Sunday. I had known for weeks I would be sharing with the New Covenant Baptist Church family in South Bend, Indiana, yet God still hadn’t spoken to me about what to share.
Totally bothered by this unusual week of meditation I called my Pastor to complain about how God was treating me. Tuesday passed and still no Scripture. Wednesday and Thursday came and I had nothing.
Friday, I called Pastor Owens again and asked if I was supposed to “warm-up some soup?” (Hey, I’ve been preaching, teaching and pastoring for well over a decade – I have a file of messages – but I’d been praying for a fresh Word for New Covenant). Owens in his wisdom said “oh my, the Lord truly is going to bless you and New Covenant on this Sunday.” (It’s good to have a Pastor - better yet a brother in ministry to who you can vent…). I took those words to heart and continued to pray and study. Suddenly early Saturday morning God spoke and took to me 3John 1:11.
Preaching Out of Obedience Got Two People Saved
We live in a world where daily people are being deceived. Just look at how Bernard Madoff has made off with many peoples money. Madoff, deceived famous and not so famous people into believing that he was the one they should trust with major life investments. You expect people to trick others into surrendering power to them in the world, but not in church. Our text focuses on a man in the Church who deceived members into believing that they should follow him. Give him the power to make their decisions. He didn’t negotiate for the people’s money, his deception was for position of power.
Well how do I protect myself from being deceived (especially in the house of God)? Yea, believe it or not we have to know how to gain protection from deception as a member of the Body of Christ. There are some people in church who are more concerned about having a position of power than presenting the power that comes from preaching God’s Life changing Word. So let me share with you this simple outline on how to have “Protection from Deception”.
1. Prepare yourself with the Truth – although our message comes from 3John…our writer, the Apostle John, also wrote the Gospel of John and declared in John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Then in verse 14 the Word becomes flesh…that same flesh declared that He is the way, the truth and the life. So we prepare ourselves by learning the Word or learning the Truth.
2. Practice the Truth – 3John 1:6 John gets reports that his “…children walk in truth.”
3. Partner with the Truth –3John 1:8 John encourages partnership “…that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.”
4. Perceive the Truth - 3John 1:11 John illustrates we have to know the difference between an evil leader and a good leader “…follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.”
The Word teaches us to try the Spirit by the Spirit. When you find that someone is trying to pull you into a Clique at Church try the Truth by the Truth. Check the person’s words by the Word and I guarantee that the Word will show you the Way. The Word which is the Way, the Truth and the Life will always provide Protection from Deception.
(Special thanks to Pastor Ray Owens for his contributions to this Sermon Outline and Scriptural Observation – I honestly have never had a preaching brother demonstrate such an unselfish eye and willingness to remind another of his preaching gifts).
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