Skip to main content.

• Register • Logout •

Saturday, December 02, 2006

The spirit of Diotrephes

...Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. - 3 John 1:9

The word "preeminence" comes from the Greek word proteuo pronounced prote-yoo’-o. It means to be first, hold the first place.

Unforunately the spirit of Diotrephes is alive and well in the church and is manifested in many ways. There is a great spirit of competition in the Church today between assemblies, even of the same Church organization.

Many pastors are afraid of visiting or associating with other like churches in their area due to the fear that a congregate may like that church better and go there.

Take a look through the many Apostolic Pentecostal Church websites that I list at http://apostolic-pentecostal-churches.net

How many do you see that link to another single Church website? It happens very rarely and then usually only to a daughter work or their Church organization.

I have worked for a long time trying to get Churches that send me their website information, to provide a recipricol link on their site to the Apostolic Pentecostal Churches website.

I cannot seem to make them understand, or they do not care that these recipricol links benefit the Apostolic Pentecostal Church as a whole. The Apostolic Pentecostal Churches site will appear much better in the search engine rankings (like Google) if the site is linked on many church websites. This means that folks looking for a Church in their area will be more likely to find their link.

I have offered bold listings to try to get Churches to do this with very poor results. I have now resorted to not listing the Church at all unless they provide the recipricol line first. Still this is having poor resuilts.

They seemingly desire preeminence on even their websites fearing that someone may get saved somewhere else or pay the tithe elsewhere.

Posted by bondservant at 01:55:00. Filed under: General

Comments

Oh brother if you only knew. When I was young and growing up I had been given the impression that if I were to leave my church and go anywhere else I was going to go to hell.
Now I have been blessed to have had two pastors, one in Ohio and one here in Arizona that have similar ideas. They both look at this as a God thing. One plants, one waters, but it is God who gives the increase. It is not about one particular church nor about one organization. It is about the kingdom of God and Him being glorified. I have believed for many years now that if the Apostolic Pentecostal church wants to see the ourpouring of the latter rain like the talk about they need to start getting over differences and attitudes that keep them from fellowshipping with others of similar faith.

Posted by MEJacks at Monday, June 11, 2007 14:52:44

Indeed, we need more Apostolic fellowship. I think that the brethren would benefit greatly from fellowship. I am glad and thankful to enjoy Apostolic fellowship in my local area. As an Apostolic minister, I encourage fellowship. However, we must be careful who we fellowship with. Not every group that goes under the banner of Apostolic is true Apostolic in teaching. Read Acts 2:42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and in prayers. The key concept here is that they continued in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship. After several years on the evangelistic field, I have learned that there are some groups that call themselves Apostolic, but they are not true Apostolic. The scripture teaches us to continue not only in fellowship but also in the apostles' doctrine. The concept of fellowship is displayed in 1 John 1. Notice verse 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ. Indeed, we need to know them that labour among us. If we fellowship in the light (truth), then we have fellowship that glorifies God. Sometimes, if we pursue fellowship, we will encounter darkness and the word teaches us to not fellowship with darkness. I would be safe in saying perhaps the reason one group doesn't fellowship with another is that they tried the spirit and it was not of God. Unfortunately, this can discourage fellowship. Pastors have the responsibility of looking after the well fare of the sheep. If a Pastor knows of wolves in sheep clothing, he must direct the sheep to stay away from this danger. A group that preaches the true plan of salvation and leaves out other important elements of Apostolic doctrine should not be fellowshipped by true believers. Allow me to say, that if one feels the leading of the Spirit to help a group in this condition, then by all means help lead this group back into Apostolic fellowship. Agian, I encourage Apostolic fellowship with true Apostolics. We must not neglect this vital part of ministry. God bless.

Posted by mountainpreacher at Tuesday, August 14, 2007 16:23:29

I Disagree mountainpreacher; The Bible teaches not to take part in darkness,but to be a light in the midst of it; If we don't have sinners around in are assemblies how will we bring them to God; If they don't believe, and are not seeking God, and trying to promote something other than the word of God, or to draw anyone away from the assembly,(cause problems),then yes. If we stick to elders(ministers)in our assemblies to be overseers like the Bible says;I don't think there is going to be a problem.

Posted by Brian111 at Friday, March 07, 2008 17:15:20

MeJacks: AMEN!!!!!!!GOD BLESS!

Posted by Brian111 at Friday, March 07, 2008 17:19:32

Add Comment

:

:
:

Archives - Next Item