The Church at War
The Enemy Within the Camp - Part 3
The Spirit of Diotrephes
3 John 1:9-10

Have you ever wondered what drives people who always want to be first? They always want the best ministry in the church, the best seat in the car, the best position in the office. They always want their ideas discussed and their plans implemented. They want their name to be first on the list, and they want the last word on any issue. They have learned to manipulate those around them so that they stand out, even sometimes at the expense of others.

Why do you think they are like that? Could it be that they live with a haunting fear of not being good enough, or a fear of being left out of left behind? Could it be that they want to hide some weakness or cover some failing in their lives? Is it because they if they can manage to manipulate their way to the front it somehow satisfies a need they have to feel needed?

This morning I want to speak to you about The Spirit of the Diotrephes - The Spirit of Preeminence

We are dealing with "The Enemy Within The Camp." So far we have looked at . . .

The Spirit of Jezebel - The Spirit of Seduction and Control
The Spirit of Mammon - The Spirit of Addiction to Wealth
The Spirit of the Pharisees - The Spirit of Religiosity
The Spirit of the World - The Spirit of Slavery and Fear

This morning then -

Open your Bibles with me if you will to the third epistle of John. While you are turning to Three John, this third epistle is about three men - two good and one bad. Who can name them for me?

Gaius - who was loved by others and who loved the truth,
Demetrius - who loved others and was loved by the truth and
Diotrephes - who loved nothing but himself and was loved by no-one but himself.

Let’s read about Diotrephes from the Scriptures. We are not told much about Diotrephes, but what we are told is very sad indeed.

3 John 1:9-10 "I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. 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."

Pray.

While it is true that there are many people in the churches today who possess the spirit of Gaius, and for them there is much thankfulness and we give God much honor, it is not uncommon for "The Spirit Of Diotrephes" to be found in some churches - and where it is found, it is normally accompanied by much pain and sorrow, and the growth of these churches is severely hindered.

Allow me, if you will, to tell you about the spirit of Diotrephes.

The name Diotrephes means ‘nourished by Zeus’ - one who is fed by the gods. How appropriate for a man who believed he knew it all.

You see, there are five things that we read about concerning Diotrephes that are also normally true of a person possessed by, or caught up with, the spirit of Diotrephes - and they all come from the Word of God.

Watch this:-

Why did he reject legitimate authority? Because the spirit of Diotrephes is a proud spirit. And whenever you encounter a proud spirit, look for its four close friends - they always come with a proud spirit - an unteachable spirit, a controlling spirit, a judgmental spirit and a rebellious spirit.

If satan can cause you to reject legitimate spiritual authority he will rob you of the purposes the Father has for you. Such a person can never fully reach their potential or completely fulfill their calling. They can never become all God wanted them to become. Why? Because when they reject legitimate authority - they effectively reject divine authority as well.

Here’s the slippery path that this person slides down.

They reject legitimate authority.
They begin to rely on their own strength and understanding.
They begin to ignore their failings and minimize their weaknesses.
They eventually fall into habitual sin - and they have nobody left to help them out of it.

You need to understand this - when you reject legitimate authority in your life, you remove yourself from the protection that authority provides for you, and you thereby open yourself up to the attack of satan - and you are going down. That is why a person who rejects legitimate spiritual authority never lasts, they either repent or they go down.

By the way - your submission to legitimate authority is not tested until you find yourself in disagreement with it. That’s right. Men have walked with me for years and have been my greatest supporters in the ministry. They sang my praise and showered me with love. Until they discovered we did not agree on something, then they left. Why? They were not under authority. Submission to authority is not tested until you disagree with that authority.

Now here is an amazing thing about people who will not position themselves under authority. They normally expect others to submit to their authority - and become very articulate when they do not.

Hebrews 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you."

I want you to notice something else about the Spirit of Diotrephes.

Do you see the problem there? Not only did he have issues with the apostle’s authority, but he slandered and gossiped about them to others. The words ‘unjustly accusing‘ means to incessantly bubble over with in a negative way - and the word ‘wicked’ comes from the same root word as pornography. In other words - it means to continually and consistently to speak filth and harm concerning others.

You can tell the spirit of Diotrephes in that is always tears others down and brings much pain. You always leave the spirit of Diotrephes feeling like a failure - ready to give up - wondering wether it is worth going on or not.

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."

Allow me to show you the third mark of the spirit of Diotrephes. It should not come as a surprise to you.

Diotrephes was not only guilty of rejecting spiritual authority, and of slandering the apostles and other believers, but he would not accept without prejudice his brothers and sisters in Christ. Why? Because they accepted and were in submission to the spiritual authority that he was in rebellion to.

That is why the Diotrephes spirit in a church not only kills new people who walk through the door - it also sends regular packing.

The Diotrephes spirit always struggles to love freely, without conditions, without the object of love first proving that they are worthy of love. Diotrephes loves conditionally. If you agree with me . . if you support me . . . if your do what I want you to do at the standard I set - then I will love you. The spirit of Diotrephes does not know how to love unconditionally, and does not know how to receive unconditional love - they are always try to earn it.

The Diotrephes spirit is easily offended - and does not easily forgive. It remembers mistakes and carries grudges. And it holds them over you year in and year out. It is all about control and manipulation. It should not surprise us that Diotrephes was offended, it is not difficult to offend a person who is enamored with their own importance.

Romans 16:17-18 "Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting."

Listen to the fourth accusation:-

Not only does Diotrephes not submit to spiritual authority, and not only does he speak slanderously of them, and not only is he unloving in his treatment of others and thereby stunts church numerical growth and individual spiritual growth, but he uses spiritual authority to banish from the church those who do. If he cannot get his way, he will make sure you do not get yours, whatever it may cost the church.

When a person uses their spiritual authority to manipulate others in order to accomplish what they want, beware - they have the spirit of Diotrephes.

When legitimate authority is used for illegitimate ends, invariably satan has got hold of somebody and highjacked they calling and their anointing, and is using them to accomplish his purposes.

I want you to see the last concern about this man, Diotrephes. I mention it last not because it is listed last but because it is the most important - all the others flow from this one.

It was his love of being first (or literally his love ‘to be preeminent, the chief, the boss, the one in control) that led to each of the other five sins. It was not his doctrine that John brought into question - it was his ambition. When you love the position and the authority more than the opportunity for service, when you love the crown you put on your head more than the towel you wrap around your waist, you have been overrun by the spirit of Diotrephes.

The love to be first is not a new thing. When the mother of James and John expressed a desire for her sons to be given preeminence, Jesus taught the principle of humility and service - Mt 20:20-28

In Mark 9:33-34 Jesus met His disciples in a house in Capernaum once, and He asked them what they had been discussing along the way. And the Bible has this to say:-"But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest." (Mark 9:34)

We live in the "me nation" and we come from a "me generation." May I suggest to you that the spirit of Diotrephes reigns freely and supremely in our nation and in our generation.

The primary manifestation of the spirit of Diotrephes over our nation is its increasing reluctance to submit itself to the authority of God. The most alarming manifestation of the spirit of Diotrephes over our nation is the increasing reluctance of individuals in the Church to submit itself to God.

There is a spirit of independence in these mountains that is from the devil, and that is the manifestation of the spirit of Diotrephes, and that is the effective outworking of a reluctance to submit to the heart and the authority of God. It seems here that if I do not like the church or the pastor or the worship, well I can just start my own church - and if nobody comes - well I will simply stop having church or going to church. And then they want to tell me that things are still fine between them and God. No they are not. They are in rebellion. They have disobeyed the Word of God and the devil has put in them a spirit of rebellion and independence. I am talking straight and hard - but I am telling the truth. I’m not going to sugar coat it to please the devil or to help a person making wrong choices feel better

When this nation was founded, many of its founders were godly men and women, and it was established for godly reasons and on godly principles. But God has shown me, and you may not have seen this before, but I now believe that in that good mix there was a bad spirit of independence - and I mean ‘a spirit’ - and evil spirit - a satanic influence - that was is about hiding sin and defending ungodly independence. It has defiantly plagued much of the civil history of this nation. It has unscrupulously undermined many of the presidents of this nation. It has unfortunately impeded the national influence of this nation. It has unashamedly compromised the church in this nation and it will, I believe, if not recognized, addressed, confessed and repented of, irreversibly be the undoing of this nation.

Now I want to bring that home. Satan wants to put a spirit of Diotrephes on you as well. Do you know why it has gone so quiet in here? It is because I am speaking the truth.

Now watch this - Diotrephes, who loves to be first, is in a very real sense, at the heart of all sin. And if the truth be told, there is a bit of Diotrephes living in each and every one of us. Come on - you know that’s right.

So how do I stop satan in his tracks - how do I stop the spirit of Diotrephes from taking control of my life?

1. Submit to Spiritual Authority.
2. Always and Only speak well of others.
3. Choose to let the first and greatest demonstration of your walk with God be your love for others.
4. Be careful to only use legitimate spiritual authority for legitimate spiritual ends.
5. Develop the heart of a servant - learn to love to see others go first.

Philippians 2:1-5 "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus."

We come now to decision time this morning. It is time to say ‘No!’ tot he devil and ‘Yes!’ to God. Will you pray with me please.

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