3 John 1:10 NKJV 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. 3 John 1:10 provides a powerful example of apostolic correction and healthy leadership. John is writing to Gaius, whom he commends for welcoming traveling ministers and supporting the work of the gospel. In contrast, he describes a leader named Diotrephes, who had developed a pattern of prideful and controlling behavior within the church. When John says, “If I come, I will call to mind his deeds,” he is not threatening revenge or destruction. Rather, he is saying that he intends to bring these matters into the light and hold Diotrephes accountable. John demonstrates that genuine spiritual authority does not ignore harmful behavior, but neither does it seek personal vengeance. It seeks truth, correction, and restoration of proper order. John first addresses the fact that Diotrephes was “prating against us with malicious words.” The word “prating” refers to empty, foolish, or harmful speech. Diotrephes was apparently spreading accusations and speaking negatively about John and the other apostles. These were not sincere concerns or doctrinal discussions. John specifically calls them “malicious words,” indicating that they were intended to damage reputations and undermine legitimate ministry. John then says that Diotrephes was “not content with that.” In other words, the problem extended beyond his speech. Diotrephes also refused to receive fellow believers and traveling ministers. In the early church, hospitality was a vital part of supporting gospel work. By refusing to receive these brethren, Diotrephes was resisting ministry that John himself endorsed. The situation became even more serious because Diotrephes was not merely refusing them personally. He was actively preventing others from receiving them as well. He sought to control who people could support, who they could fellowship with, and who they could hear from. This reveals that the root issue was not doctrine but a desire for control and preeminence. John had already identified this motive in verse 9 when he said that Diotrephes “loves to have the preeminence.” Finally, John notes that Diotrephes was putting people out of the church for showing hospitality to these ministers. Those who disagreed with him or chose to support the brethren risked exclusion. This represents an abuse of spiritual authority. Rather than serving the flock, Diotrephes was using his position to dominate and isolate people. The larger lesson is that spiritual leadership is never meant to be built upon control, intimidation, or the desire to be first. Diotrephes serves as a warning of what can happen when pride enters leadership. His actions included attacking fellow servants of God, restricting fellowship, controlling relationships, and punishing those who disagreed with him. Jesus taught a completely different model of leadership. He said that the greatest among His followers would be servants. Kingdom leadership is not about controlling access to God, controlling information, or controlling people. It is about serving others and helping them grow in Christ. One of the most interesting aspects of this passage is what John chooses to confront. The problem was not that Diotrephes showed too much mercy or too much kindness. The problem was that he used his influence to reject, exclude, and isolate believers. In many ways, John is actually defending fellowship here. He is standing up for believers who desired to receive and support fellow workers in Christ. The chapter concludes with John’s exhortation: “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good” (3 John 1:11). John’s goal is not simply to expose a bad example. His goal is to direct believers toward a better one. Scripture often does this. God not only shows us what to avoid, but also what to become. For me, one of the most encouraging lessons from this passage is seeing how John handled the situation. He did not launch a public crusade of destruction. He did not tell everyone to hate Diotrephes. He simply identified the behavior, brought it into the light, and trusted godly accountability to address the problem. That balance of truth, courage, and restraint remains a valuable model for Christian leaders today.

WELCOME TO OUR BIBLE BEFORE BREAKFAST DEVOTIONAL STUDY HOUR. WEDNESDAY 13th MAY 2026.  TOPIC: THE IDOL OF SELF-SERVICE IN THE NAME OF SERVING GOD: ​The Subtle Difference Between Serving God for His Glory and Using Ministry to Build Our Own Empires.  ​Main Text: Philippians 2:3–8; 3 John 1:9–11; John 12:42–43; Colossians 3:23–24. ​“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” — John 12:43 (NKJV) ​“He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:30 (NKJV)   ​INTRODUCTION: THE TROJAN HORSE OF HOLY AMBITION. In the landscape of modern Christianity, one of the most deceptive idols does not look like a golden calf; it looks like a microphone, a platform, or a busy calendar.  We often assume that "idolatry" implies bowing down to a foreign god or statues of wood and stone. However, the most dangerous form of idolatry for a believer, and specifically for a leader, is Self-Service masquerading as Divine Service.  ​This is the "Trojan Horse" of ministry: an external structure that looks like the Kingdom of God, full of good works, sermons, and songs, but inside, it carries the hidden soldiers of ego, the eager search for public validation, and personal empire.  ​The heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). It is entirely possible to preach Jesus while seeking applause for oneself. It is possible to build a church, a charity, or a movement ostensibly "for the glory of God," while the secret architectural blueprint is designed to secure our own legacy. We tell ourselves we are expanding the Kingdom, but in reality, we are often just expanding our resume and economic income.    ​THE DIAGNOSTIC QUESTION: If God asked you to step down from the platform, remain invisible, and serve His abolute interest in obscurity where no one but Him would see you, would you still have the same passion? If the answer is "no," then the service was never truly for Him; it was for the drug of economic well-being, and significance that public ministry provides.  ​Ref: Matthew 6:1–5 (Doing alms to be seen by men); Galatians 1:10 (If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ). ​1.DIOTREPHES AND THE SPIRIT OF EMPIRE. ​The Apostle John gives us a chilling profile of this condition in his third epistle. He writes of a church leader named Diotrephes, describing him as one "who loves to have the preeminence among them" (3 John 1:9).    ​Notice that Diotrephes was not an atheist; he was a leader in the church. He likely organised services, led prayers, and managed church affairs. Yet, his service was "unacceptable" to God because his motivation was preeminence.  He treated the Bride of Christ as his personal possession. He used the authority of God to reject the Apostle John and expel those who disagreed with him.    ​THE "EMPIRE" MINDSET vs. THE "KINGDOM" MINDSET: ​The Empire Builder: Uses people as fuel to keep the machinery of their vision running. They are obsessed with "my ministry," "my brand," " my position",  and "my title." When the work is threatened, they defend it with fleshly anger because their identity is tied to the structure. To them, people are resources to be managed, not souls to be shepherded towards eternal life in heaven. THE KINGDOM SERVANT: The kingdom Servants Sees themselves merely as a steward. They hold titles loosely. They are willing to be bypassed or overlooked if it means Souls are saved, preserved and Jesus is glorified. Their joy is not in being the "man of the hour" but in being the "friend of the Bridegroom" (John 3:29). When we use God’s name to build our own empires, we commit spiritual theft. We take the glory that belongs solely to the King and appropriate it to build a monument for ourselves. This is a high treasonable felony of the soul.  ​Ref: Ezekiel 34:2–4 (Woe to the shepherds who feed themselves instead of the flock); Mark 10:42–45 (The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, but it shall not be so among you).    ​2. THE SUBTLE SHIFT: FROM "THY WILL" TO "MY WAY". ​How does a sincere believer slide into the idol of self-service? It rarely happens overnight. It begins with a genuine call, but over time, the maintenance of the ministry becomes more important than the Mandate of the Master.  ​We begin to make decisions based on what will "grow the crowd" or "increase donations" rather than what the Holy Spirit is whispering. We compromise the hard truths of the Gospel because they might offend the "investors" of our empire. We start "using" God’s name to endorse our own good ideas, slapping a "Jesus sticker" on a car that we are driving in the wrong direction.  Consider the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:8–10). Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory if He would just bow down. The temptation was not just about power; it was a shortcut to glory without the Cross.    ​Self-service is the attempt to have a resurrection without a crucifixion. It is the desire to wear the crown without bearing the cross. But in the Kingdom of God, the way up is down.  Acceptable service is always marked by the scars of self-denial. If your service to God costs you nothing, If it did not cost you your pride, your ego, and your preference, it is likely worth nothing in the courts of Heaven.  ​Ref: Luke 9:23 (If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself); Philippians 2:5–7 (Christ made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant).    ​3. THE ANTIDOTE: THE TOWEL AND THE BASIN MINISTRY. ​How do we smash the idol of self-service? We must return to the Upper Room.  ​In John 13:3–5, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands—did not call for a throne. He did not demand a press conference. He rose from supper, laid aside His garments, took a towel, and girded Himself. He washed the dirty, calloused feet of the very men who would soon betray, deny, and abandon Him.   ​This is the litmus test of acceptable service: Are you willing to do the dirty, humble work? Are you willing to serve those who cannot pay you back? Are you willing to wash the feet of your "Judas" if Jesus asks you to? ​The idol of self-service cannot survive in the posture of washing feet. You cannot build an empire while you are on your knees scrubbing dirty. ​To serve God on His terms means we must constantly invite the Holy Spirit to audit our motives. We must be brave enough to pray, "Lord, if this work has become about me, tear it down so that only You remain." We must realise that God is not impressed by the size of the harvest if the heart of the harvester is rotten with pride. ​THE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE: One day, the applause of the crowds will fade into silence. The number of followers, book sales, and conference invitation will all be forgotten dust. The only thing that will echo in eternity is the service done with a pure heart with eternally worthy fruits for the glory of the King. ​Let us not be found on that day standing atop a crumbling empire of self, clutching a crown we awarded ourselves. Instead, let us be found like the twenty-four elders in Revelation, casting our crowns before the throne, saying, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power" (Revelation 4:11). ​LET US PRAY: ​"Lord Jesus, I confess that I have often sought my own glory while speaking Your name. I have allowed the desire for recognition to pollute my service. I have built walls to protect my reputation rather than doors to welcome your presence. Today, I topple the idol of self. I abdicate the throne of my heart and reinstate You as my King. Teach me the freedom of obscurity. Grant me the grace to serve for your eyes alone. Let me decrease, that You may increase. In Jesus Christ Mighty Name, Amen." GET IN TOUCH: Ago king Paul Evang. +234 90 63 84 57 48, 070 540 111 99. Life Changers Ministry aka Living Ready Gospel Church, Grace Assembly, Ilorin Kwara state Nigeria. Email: Godisnotanoptionjhn15v5[gmail].com.

Daily devotion for October 31st The Care and Feeding of Fellow-Workers Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity. 1 Corinthians 16:12 That is a most remarkable verse, especially in view of the attitude many today have that the apostles were, in a sense, generals in the army of the Lord, sending out people, ordering them here or there, and commanding these younger Christians to go at their beck and call. But you do not find that here. This verse indicates that Paul does not command Apollos at all; he has no authority over him. He urges him, rather. In several places in the New Testament we are reminded by the apostle that he was not lord over anybody else. Lording it over the brethren is one of the great curses of the church today. Some men assume, for instance, that the office of pastor gives them an authority over other people. But notice that Paul respects the personal freedom of Apollos to be directed of the Lord, even as he himself is. He does not tell Apollos what he has to do, but he says it was not his will to come, and Paul accepts that. Apollos, too, was operating under the direct control of God. This is not only true of leaders, such as Paul and Apollos, it is true of all Christians. Perhaps the clearest word on this was spoken by the Lord himself when he said, For you have one teacher and you are all brothers, (Matthew 23:8). The church must return to that restoration of the sense of being brothers with one another, not in position over one another, but working together. I find Christians everywhere under the authority of men who seem to be dictators — much like Diotrephes, whom John mentions in one of his letters, who loved to have the pre-eminence among them (3 John 1:9). Believers must understand that no pastor has the right to tell them what they can do with their spiritual gifts and no pastor has the right to tell them that you cannot have a meeting in their home and teach the Word of God to whoever will come and listen. Now they should listen to him as a wise brother who understands the nature of truth, perhaps, and can give them helpful suggestions. But no pastor ever, anywhere, has the right to tell another that they cannot follow the leading of the Lord as to the ministry that they have. Paul makes that clear in this passage. Observe how he supports Apollos in this. Apollos will come, he says, when he has opportunity. Paul and Apollos and Peter were three men around whom factions were gathering in this church. Perhaps Paul wanted Apollos to go because he thought it might improve that situation. But that may be the very reason Apollos did not want to go. As he might have seen it, and evaluated it, and understood it, his visiting Corinth might even have aggravated the tendency of the Corinthians to cluster around an individual. So he did not choose to go, and the apostle supports him. This is a very helpful glance into New Testament life. Lord, thank you for your Word. Teach me to listen to you and pray for those around me who are called to shepherd the flock of God.

*DEVOTIONAL ✝️ COMPANION* *DIOTREPHES AMONG US (PART 4).* 3 John 1:9(MSG)...... *Earlier I wrote something along this line to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves being in charge, denigrates my counsel.* Watch out for people who love their names to be mentioned first in church for any project done because it is this spirit at work. I am not saying that when the church seeks to acknowledge you, then you should say no, but there are those who do things in the house of God for personal recognition and exaltation. And yet they will claim that it is not the reason they do it, but once they find another person praised, they feel uncomfortable. Watch out for people who go about to know who did this and that in the church because it is the manifestation of the spirit. Watch out for people who feel they are entitled to a particular treatment from the church leadership because of their support. It is the manifestation of the spirit of Diotrephes. Watch out for people who tell you they have a special calling from God to be going about assisting churches and men and women of God because it is the manifestation of this spirit. The spirit of Diotrephes is a spirit of pride. People with this spirit love to be heard, but they will not hear others. They love to be respected, but they won’t respect others. This spirit loves others to bow to them; that is why they love to go to churches that are just growing so they can take the glory of everything and seek to outshine everyone, and they also want to sit at the top of every decision. Prayer: Lord, pull down the works and manifestation of this spirit away from us in Jesus name. Expose them and their works in Jesus name. Amen. Bible Reference: Jeremiah 1:9-19, Mathew 15:12-14. Wisdom Capsule: Proverbs 11:7 (MSG)..... *When the wicked die, that’s it— the story’s over, end of hope.*

*DEVOTIONAL ✝️ COMPANION* *DIOTREPHES AMONG US (PART 3).* 3 John 1:9 (AMPC)..... *I have written briefly to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to take the lead among them and put himself first, does not acknowledge my authority and refuses to accept my suggestions or to listen to me.* If John the Apostle, who said the Lord walked with him and was one of the pillars of the church, can be dishonoured like this and have this kind of experience, who then are we to complain? People with the spirit of Diotrephes love to put themselves first. What does this mean? They look for pictures where their face didn’t appear and fight whoever took the picture. Such people are extremely disturbed, but they don’t know. They indirectly do not acknowledge the superior authority. They always want their opinion to be heard and accepted. One thing with these kinds of people is that at first glance you can’t see it because they don’t look it. Apostle John said they do not accept his suggestions, and they don’t listen to him. This means that it is what is in their heart that they will carry out. They don’t take other people’s opinions or advice. These people are among us and they are evil. When you mark them, you pray to God to expose them and push them out because they can’t change. And with them in the church, it won’t grow and there will not be peace in the church. Be guided. Prayer: Oh Lord, send me now help and help your church. Send forth your spirit of revelation and expose the evil among us in Jesus name. Amen. Bible Reference: Psalm 2:1-12. Wisdom Capsule: Proverbs 11:6 (MSG).... *Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust* .

*DEVOTIONAL ✝️ COMPANION* *DIOTREPHES AMONG US (PART 2)* . 3 John 1:9 (AMPC)...... *I have written briefly to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to take the lead among them and put himself first, does not acknowledge my authority and refuses to accept my suggestions or to listen to me.* The spirit of Diotrephes is among us. The spirit is in every church. But how do I unmask this spirit even among the leadership of a church? First, from the Amplified translation that we read, we saw something with which to mark the spirit among us. This spirit likes to take the lead. It means that people with this spirit are never satisfied with second position in anything. Now i don’t mean this positively but negatively. What it means is that people with this kind of spirit always want to be the head anywhere they find themselves. Any department you put them in, if they are not made the head, they will fight whoever is the head there and will make his or her reign toxic. They love to be noticed, and that is why they love to be the head. Nothing you do ever makes them happy and no judgement of yours is pleasant unless they are the ones giving it. To worsen it, they will get people also to poison their heart both in vision and in words to start seeing or saying the same thing without the people knowing their true intentions. So, say no to this spirit now. Prayer: Ask God for his help and pray in the Spirit now Bible Reference: Romans 13:1-14 Wisdom Capsule: Proverbs 11:5 (MSG)..... *Moral character makes for smooth traveling; an evil life is a hard life.*

*DEVOTIONAL ✝️ COMPANION* *DIOTREPHES AMONG US* 3 John 1:9 (KJV)...... *I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.* God, by his Spirit, wants me to warn the church of the spirit of Diotrephes that is among us. What is this, Diotrephes? He was a member of the church that John founded. He was at first a devoted brother whose true intentions were hidden, but with time, it was made abroad for all to see. In fact, history has it that this Diotrephes was the first monarchist bishop of Asia, i.e., he was an authority in the church. He was a leader, but the thing with this brother is that his name, Diotrephes, means “nourished by Zeus”, and Zeus is one fallen god of the Greeks. But he refused to change his name even after his encounter with Christ. Diotrephes was a “satan in the flesh”. All he ever did to the church was nothing but evil. 3 John 1:11 (KJV)....... *.Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.* As far as John the Apostle was concerned, he believed that this brother never saw the Lord because there is no way you will claim you have seen the Lord and still retain this amount of evil in you. Why am I writing this to us? It is for us to also see that there were evil and evil people among the church of the early days. So, we don’t think that whatever we see happening among us today is new. Nothing is new. Prayer: Lord I thank you for sending me your word today. I also thank you for opening my eyes by it and showing me things for my learning and this will I also make others see in Jesus name. Amen. Bible Reference: Ephesians 3:8-9, Colossians 3:1-11. Wisdom Capsule: Proverbs 11:4 (MSG)..... *.A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst.*

3 John 1:9 – “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have preeminence among them, does not receive us.” Pride is a subtle but destructive force. In 3 John 1:9, we see a troubling example in Diotrephes—a man who allowed his desire for authority and control to override his love for truth and unity. Rather than receiving the apostle John with humility, he rejected sound leadership and sought preeminence for himself. His pride made him resistant to correction, divisive in relationships, and harmful to the church. This passage reminds us that pride in leadership leads to isolation. Most likely we've all known church leaders who have been infected with the sin of pride. True, godly leadership isn’t about grasping for power—it’s about serving with humility and advancing the mission of Christ. The greatest leaders aren’t those who demand attention, but those who point others to Jesus rather than themselves. It is very important, especially if you're a leader in the church, to avoid putting your own interests before God's! That is an invitation to His judgment! Examine your heart today: Are there areas where pride might be hindering your ability to listen, serve, or receive godly wisdom? Ask God to help you lead with humility, placing His mission above personal ambition. Have a great day, and as always, let others see Jesus in you!

A Talkative Fool The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. ~ Proverbs 10:8 The wise person listens and learns, so they will be honored. The foolish person talks too much and fails because they ignore God's rules. A good example of this would be Diotrephes who spoke against the Apostle John and other Godly people, reveals his foolishness through his own words. His heart overflows with negativity. This kind of behavior leads to sin and trouble, ultimately resulting in disgrace in this life and into hell in the next. Here is the passage that talks about Diotrephes: “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church” (3 John 1:9–10). Diotrephes is described with these points: 1) he wants to be the top leader; 2) he does not allow the apostles to come into the church; 3) he spreads harmful rumors about God’s servants; 4) he does not show kindness to other believers; 5) he expects others to follow his bad behavior; and 6) he kicks out anyone who opposes him. It’s important to express what needs to be said, but speaking too much can result in saying things that shouldn’t be said. Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. ~ 3 John 1:11 https://know-the-bible.com/february-21/ #BibleStudy #DEVOTIONAL