friend of people

[Ron Cantor @RonSCantor]

DIOTREPHES: A CAUTIONARY TALE OF PRIDE IN LEADERSHIP

Most people have never heard of Diotrephes, yet his story in 3 John offers a surprisingly modern lesson about leadership and pride. Who was this forgotten figure? Diotrephes was a house church leader operating under John’s apostolic authority. John, one of Yeshua’s original twelve disciples and the regional apostolic overseer, had jurisdiction over Diotrephes’s congregation—and Diotrephes knew it.

Yet Diotrephes rebelled. His sin was straightforward: pride. He wanted to be first, to hold preeminence, to answer to no one (v. 9). John didn’t mince words in calling him out publicly, rebuking his refusal to acknowledge apostolic authority (v. 9) and his divisive behavior within the church (v. 10).

PRIDE DESTROYS
Why is pride so corrosive in leadership? Because it makes a leader a tyrant rather than a servant.
😤 Pride blinds leaders to their limitations, making them resistant to accountability—the very thing that keeps them humble and effective.
😤 A proud leader becomes defensive, dismissive of correction, and eventually isolated.
😤 They prioritize their reputation over their congregation’s health.
😤 They build kingdoms instead of God’s kingdom.

What began as a leadership team of elders, walking in covenantal friendship, became a dictatorship by one leader intent on having full control.

“Diotrephes’ lust for leadership was symptomatic of the same lust that would take over the church in the following centuries. One by one, churches—formerly cared for by a group of elders—were taken over by one leader. This eventually led to a whole system of bishops, cardinals, and a pope.” (Scholar Bruce Barton)

HOW DID DIOTREPHES BECOME A LEADER?
How did Diotrephes even gain leadership? Likely through genuine gifts and charisma—pride often wears the mask of competence. But without humility, those gifts became weapons of control rather than tools of service. How many pastors started out with pure intentions, only to allow fear, pride, and the terror of losing people to other congregations turn them into manipulators?

The congregation that we sought to confront recently (see our YouTube channel) had members who wanted to leave or did leave, only to be labeled as being sifted by Satan or following the devil. It couldn’t be that they simply felt called to be in a different fellowship. Leaving was personal. It stirred up all the insecurities of the senior leader. Therefore, he sought to instill fear in the others that leaving was akin to following demons. That is Diotrephes-type leadership.

WHO IS GAIUS?
The contrast with Gaius is striking. Also a house church leader under John’s authority, Gaius appears in the same letter as someone John commends. What was the difference?

🤗 Gaius embodied servanthood.
🤗 He supported missionaries,
🤗 showed hospitality,
🤗 and apparently accepted John’s apostolic guidance.

In short, Gaius was kingdom-minded, seeking to extend God’s kingdom to the pagans, whereas Diotrephes was earthly-minded, building his own kingdom. The Holy Spirit wants us to see the contrast between these two house congregation leaders and learn from it.

TAKEAWAY
The lesson is clear: leadership without accountability breeds tyranny. Diotrephes reminds us that unchecked ambition—even among the gifted—becomes poisonous. The antidote? The humility of Gaius, who understood that true leadership means serving under authority, not fighting for supremacy.

Seek fellowship in a congregation where there is team leadership dynamic among the elders, not a dictatorship from a charismatic figure. Are the elders empowered, or are they merely eunuchs serving the senior leader? Look for a Gaius, not a Diotrephes in a pastor (and elders).

Dr. Ron Cantor
SIgn up at https://t.co/AePiXJTR1x and I will send you a free ebook

[Rabbi Brian Samuel @rabbriansamuel]

When Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, have you noticed that the voice spoke to him in Hebrew and not Greek?

Acts 26:14: I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

This means that Jesus' following words were in Hebrew as well.

Acts 26:15: And the Lord said, "I am Jesus—whom you are persecuting."

Since this was spoken in Hebrew, it conclusively proves that Jesus from heaven called Himself Yeshua, His Hebrew name, rather than the Greek Iesous.

I think this is very cool. 🔥

[NetBlocks @netblocks]

📵 #Iran's internet blackout is entering its 68th day after 1608 hours. The general public have now been largely cut off from the global internet for 70% of the year 2026 to date, with some reporting no contact since the beginning of the first digital shutdown in January.

[Joel Richardson @Joel7Richardson]

New Testament urgency and sensationalism / date-setting are two very distinct things. Our position should be rooted in the biblical text, not popular Christian cultural reactionism. The New Testament undeniably drips with eager and urgent expectation. Jesus Himself taught His followers to live in constant readiness:

“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42)

“For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”(Matthew 24:44)

The apostles continued this same posture of expectancy:

“The night is almost gone, and the day is near.” (Romans 13:12)

“You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” (James 5:8)

“The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” (1 Peter 4:7)

The book of Hebrews frames the entire Christian life in light of the approaching day:

“Encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25)

None of these passages involve date-setting. They involve watchfulness, expectancy, and urgency, which is precisely the posture the New Testament repeatedly commands believers to maintain.

Rejecting sensationalism is wise. Rejecting the Bible’s own tone of eager expectation is foolish.

[Emily Schrader - אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر @emilykschrader]

Literally every single Iranian in every major Iranian city I have spoken to has confirmed the following three things:

1. They have personally witnessed IRGC and basij forces threatening them on the streets, in some cases shooting at apartment buildings.
2. They have personally witnessed forces moving into schools and mosques to use for military purposes including transferring weapons and gear.
3. The people are cheering on the airstrikes on regime sites, thanking the US and Israel, and don’t want the US or Israel to stop attacking the regime.

[Holly Pivec @HollyPivec]

Bethel is part of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement, though Bethel leaders aren’t upfront about that. And NAR is not about whether you believe that the miraculous gifts—like prophecy, healing, and tongues—are for today.

IT'S ABOUT whether you believe that all Christians and churches must submit to modern apostles and prophets (including Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, and the others at Bethel Redding) who teach that *they alone* are authorized by God to:

• deliver new revelation for the global church and for nations

• activate their followers with miraculous gifts

• govern societal institutions

• cast out high-ranking demons that rule over cities and nations

• make decrees that end pandemics and alter the weather

• permit angels to answer the prayers of their followers

• take dominion and bring God’s kingdom to earth.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT whether you believe that it’s OK for their “prophets” to give false prophecies and engage in sexual misconduct and still portray themselves as genuine prophets of God. That is true of the movement’s most revered “prophets”—not just the ones who recently have been caught (like Shawn Bolz). It’s also true of those "prophets" they still revere and whose teachings they still follow (including William Branham, Paul Cain, and Bob Jones) and will continue to follow. But Bethel/NAR leaders don’t want you to know that.

AND IT'S ABOUT whether you believe it’s OK for them to abuse Scripture to support those teachings and vilify those who challenge them.

For full documentation and the primary sources of those teachings, see our books about Bethel and NAR, "Counterfeit Kingdom" and "Reckless Christianity."

#NewApostolicReformation #BethelRedding #CoverupCulture #ApostlesandProphets

[J.C. Ryle @JCRyle]

As a Christian do you LONG for the return of Christ? Is this something that is on your mind daily?

J.C. Ryle said, “Nothing, nothing, I am convinced, so much tends to keep a believer in a really healthy state of soul as continually looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the best purifying doctrine in all the Bible.”

Consider the following verses....

Titus 2:11–13

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”

2 Timothy 4:8

“In the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

1 John 3:2–3
“Beloved, now we are children of God… We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Philippians 3:20–21
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with the body of His glory…”

Hebrews 9:28
“…Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

1 Thessalonians 1:9–10

Paul commends the Thessalonian church because they “turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come.”

Revelation 22:20
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

The final prayer of the Bible is the church’s longing response: “Come, Lord Jesus” (Μαράνα θά / Marana tha in 1 Cor 16:22 is an early Aramaic Christian prayer meaning “Our Lord, come!”).

[Joel Richardson @Joel7Richardson]

Watching the explosion of Jew-hatred both inside and outside the church is incredibly discouraging. On the other hand, none of it is random—it’s 100% prophecy unfolding on the world stage. If Israel were now irrelevant, the world wouldn’t be obsessed with destroying them. The hatred only proves what Scripture declared all along: Israel is still at the center of God’s plan. The rage against the Jewish people exposes the lie of replacement theology and confirms the truth of God’s Word that Jesus the Messiah is coming soon to fix this mess.

[JP @jharrigan77]

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
(Heb 11:1)

By which he means the assurance of eschatology (cf. 10:34-39). Conviction concerning the coming reward (11:6, 26), the coming city (v. 10, 16), the coming homeland (v. 14), and the better resurrection (v. 35).

Jewish eschatology thus creates hope which is how the saints "preserve their souls" (10:39).

[friend of people @ReneMarkusse]

@devoninMENA I like these two books by Art Katz:
- The anatomy of deception
- the Spirit of Truth

[friend of people @ReneMarkusse]

@DaltonLThomas Thank you brother and sister for this beautiful song. Its message is timeless.

[friend of people @ReneMarkusse]

@Torncurtainorg I am a complete outsider, not involved with Daystar. But I just heard about 'some ussues'.
My main point after seeing this video: where is her humility? Does she know some one may suffer (loss) for Christ?

[friend of people @ReneMarkusse]

@hendrinadegraaf Leuk om jullie beiden (afzonderlijk) gesproken te hebben (René)

[Lausanne Movement @lcwe]

"The gospel is about Jesus. We need to speak more about Him and less about ourselves, our leaders, and our achievements."

- Ronaldo Lidorio

#L4Congress

[friend of people @ReneMarkusse]

@Joel7Richardson Thanks Joel for your service to the body of Christ!

[friend of people @ReneMarkusse]

@JohnHansel14 Happy birthday. Hartelijk gefeliciteerd (Dutch)

[friend of people @ReneMarkusse]

@johnp336 AMEN

[friend of people @ReneMarkusse]

@Rainmaker1973 38

[friend of people @ReneMarkusse]

@Rainmaker1973 1118

[friend of people @ReneMarkusse]

@HowThingsWork_ 4