Text: Joshua 10:3; 3 John 1:9-12

The fourth king in the Amorite spirit quintet was Japhia. Japhia means “shining” and is the spirit behind all those driven to be seen.

Jesus spoke to this as He addressed the people about the scribes and Pharisee’s (cf. Matthew 23:5) where the Greek word for “to be seen” is where we get the word theatrical—a spectacular performance (Robberson) so that men may fix their gaze upon them admiringly (Vincent). The Apostle John dealt with the same spirit in the church decades later, “I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority”(3 John 1:9 ESV).

Notice all the actions of a Diothrephes: rebels against authority; speaks evil of authority; lacks hospitality for the brethren passing through; stops those in the congregation who are hospitable and puts them out of the church. McGee takes it a bit further, “Not only have I met Diotrephes, but I have also met Mrs. Diotrephes in the church today. May I say that there are certain people who ought not to sing solos in the church. They do not bring glory to God, and sometimes they select songs which absolutely hurt the service rather than help it.” And he concludes, “All of us need to search our hearts—even the ministers. Why are you presiding? Why are you leading? Why do you sing? Do you love to have the preeminence? Are you doing this for the glory of God? Certainly we need somebody to preside. We need somebody to sing a solo. We need somebody to teach the Word. Many are needed, but search your heart before you do anything because you can wreck a church if you are one like Diotrephes who loves to have the preeminence.”

The Japhia spirit can be so very subtle, because it can take an obvious gift from God—singing, teaching, leading—and make it ineffective by altering its motive from glorifying God to glorifying self. It can even justify itself with the thought, “it’s my time to shine!”

Remember today that whatever it is that we do in service to our Lord must be done for His glory. Take a personal inventory regarding your service to Him; see if Japhia is trying to move your motive to stand out personally rather than glorifying God. Devote to destruction any desire to “shine.”