Called to Serve the Lord

Jeremiah's Call

Book of Jeremiah Chapter 1:1-19

If you have read much of Jeremiah, you will know that Jeremiah is known as "The Weeping Prophet". We will see that throughout his lifetime Jeremiah witnessed one catastrophe after another along with sufferings beyond measure, and all these things broke the heart of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah was called to be a prophet of God during the last forty years of the history of Judah.

If we call that at the end of the reign of King Solomon the nation of Israel was divided into two nations one being called Israel, the northern nation and the other called Judah.

The northern nation had already fallen and no longer existed before the time of Jeremiah and Judah, the southern nation will fall during the time of Jeremiah.

The last forty years of the time of Judah was a terrible time to be a Jew. Assyria to the north, Babylon to the west, and Egypt to the south and these three were all seeking world domination and Judah lay in the middle.

Judah had fallen away from the Lord and even rejected and denied Him and they were unwilling to repent from their wickedness.

Jeremiah could not have started ministry until the age of 30 and He served the Lord for 41 years until his forced exile into Egypt.

Jeremiah prophesied of the wickedness of Judah and though he was ridiculed and abused, God never left his side and Jeremiah remained faithful to his calling.

This is the same for each Christian today. God will never forsake those that love Him!

It is a tragic thing to reject the Lord because He is the only one who could deliver Judah from all these enemies.

In many ways we can see America falling into this same trap! It seems that wickedness has raised its filthy head and is beginning to rule in America and the Church is just too lazy to take a stand on the Word of God.

When a people claim to be followers of the Lord but allow this wicked world to come into the Church even inviting this wickedness into the Church we will see that God will certainly not be pleased.

We already know that the Old Testament not only provides prophesies of the future but contains the many examples we are to learn from.

The Apostle Paul by the hand of the Holy Spirit writes of these things:

1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

We should also remember that even the words of Jeremiah were given to him by the Holy Spirit.

Let's Begin

*****Jer 1:1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

Jer 1:2 To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Jer 1:3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

The first thing we see is that Jeremiah was the son of a priests in the line Aaron and Jeremiah would have also been a priest if God had not called on him to be a prophet answering only to God Himself.

Remember God's prophets always told the truth and any prophecy they foretold had to take place or they were a false prophet!

During the time of Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Daniel, and Ezekiel also prophesied the Word of God. We can see that God made sure these Jews got to hear the truth.

We should also know that every nation and every society will experience difficult years and we are no different having already been through the great depression and many wars that challenged our nation and are now seeing how pure wickedness affects us all.

The city of Ana Thoth was in the land that was given to the tribe of Benjamin, but it was located not more than 3 miles of Jerusalem.

Ana Thoth was a city of priests assigned by Joshua, so Jeremiah was raised around the many families of priests who lived there.

We also see that these people were real familiar to the Word of God because God had sent His prophets in the time of Josiah and in the time of Jehoiakim.

There is never a time that God does reach out to His people, the only exception being the 400 hundred years after the time of Malachi until the birth of Jesus Christ where God allowed His will to take place without sending His prophets. These Jews had all the information they needed to prepare for the Messiah.

We have all the information that we need today to prepare for the return of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

We know that end Judah was carried away by Babylon and they would remain captives until the end of 70 years as Jeremiah had prophesied until the time of King Cyrus that Isaiah had prophesied.

Isa_44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

Isa_45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

*****Jer 1:4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Is there anyone in here that still thinks that a baby in the womb is not a real creation of God. We should understand that God knows what our life will be like before our seed has been planted in our mother’s womb.

It has already been proven that babies before they are born can hear things outside their mother’s womb.

Is there anyone that does not believe that the same sovereign power that ordained Jeremiah to be a prophet, and the Apostle Paul, and the many others into the ministry of the Lord has not reveal the Lord Jesus Christ unto us so we could be saved.

Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

We are here today because we have also been called by the "Grace of God" into the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God did not call Jeremiah just for Judah, God called Jeremiah to witness to all the nations.

Some great things are said here:

1) Before God forms us, He already knows us.

2) Before we are born, God can sanctify us, set apart for His use

3) Before we are born, Gods knows everything about our lives

We see that God's calling is very personal. God tries to get personal with us even when we do not want a relationship with Him.

What is the first thing most all of us do? We offer up excuses which means we have told God that He does not know what He is talking about.

If not for God's "Grace" where would we be by now?

*****Jer 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

God calls humans to take the Word of God to other humans. We should be thankful that God has thought enough of us to trust us with His words of truth.

Everyone in the Church can have a ministry.

We should be humbled to know that God knows us before we are even born into this world.

Jeremiah was set aside for a specific task, even though he would be a priest when he reached the age of maturity.

Jeremiah was only a child when he understood what God wanted from Him.

God created all the nations and every human being, and He wants us all to know the truth of His Creation so that we all can be saved.

God wants all of us to be good soldiers in the army of God the qualifications begin by being set apart for His use.

2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

I never leave this class room on Sunday thinking I have done what God ask me to do, or said the words that God wanted me to say.

But I told God I would not quit on Him.

There are young people in our own church who God is dealing with and saying the same thing that Jeremiah said.

"Lord, I am but a child, how can I have the words to say to these people".

As Jeremiah grew up it was easy for him to see the wickedness of His nation.

We better believe that all the young people here in our church and others are seeing the wickedness that is happening in our own nation and we must pray that they will keep their Christian roots and join into the Army of God,

Jeremiah knew that a prophet of God must have the ability to speak in public and he felt he could not do this. I can relate to this myself.

Most everyone called of God have these same feelings.

Even Moses felt this way.

Exo 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

God persuaded Moses and God would persuade Jeremiah.

*****Jer 1:7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

I am beginning to understand that God has given us the words we are to say, and God takes full responsibility for the results of His Words!

I am never wrong when I speak God's Words and Jeremiah would not be wrong when He spoke the Words God had given to him.

We see that being a child is never a good excuse for not obeying the calling of the Lord and our young people must realize that this true.

We are all the children of God without excuse and we have seen many babes in Christ many of them fail because would not accept the calling of God.

God insisted that Jeremiah be obedient to his calling.

This is what the Lord expects of us all. He expects us to be true to the things He has called on us to do!

In most cases when we refuse the Lord then someone will get our blessing and we will be reminded of this when we meet Jesus at the Bema Seat!

We must not make up excuses to reject the Lord's calling. He already knows each one of us better than we know our selves. We must understand that God will provide everything we need to do what He has asked us to do!

We are all called to be ambassadors for Christ which means we are citizens of Heaven sent here to tell the world about Jesus Christ!

God has called all of us to be witnesses of the perfect salvation that is offered as a free gift to all those who call upon the name of Jesus.

This can be a frightening thing to us just like it was to Jeremiah!

*****Jer 1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

The one sure thing we must realize is that as the children of God we do not go anywhere alone. Our Father in Heaven is always with us!

We could not be members of Gethsemane if not for Preacher Sam who had faith knowing what God had called him to do!

God met all the needs of Jeremiah!

God promise to protect Jeremiah.

God promised to be with Jeremiah and He would not forsake us.

Sometimes we just do not realize how wonderful it is for the Lord to say, I will never forsake you.

Psa 37:28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

It is because the Lord will never forsake us that we are preserved throughout eternity!

All these thigs begin when we serve the Lord while we are still upon this earth!

As Christians many will look upon us with disdain, but the Lords says we must never be afraid of their faces.

The Lord will give us the things to say. He has already given us His Word, but the Lord will give us the words at that moment what needs to be said, by the Holy Spirit who lives within each Saint of God!

No matter how inadequate we feel God will meet our needs. I can promise you, I know about this one!

Even when Jeremiah was a child the Lord began to instruct Him but also to make him confident in what God was asking from Him!

Remember how we always say the Apostle Paul did not have the New Testament to help him build the church.

We can also say that Jeremiah did not have much of the Old Testament when God call ed on Him. In fact, about all he had was the Books of Moses.

We should be able to see how important it is that we have the complete Word of God today because God called on these great men of God to give us what God has said and then He also given us these examples.

We must understand the most important thing we can give the Lord is to be available when He calls and a willing heart, open to the ways of the Lord!

God seeks a heart that is surrendered to Him and this is a person that God can equip to be a servant to those who do not know Him!

What did God say to Moses:

Exo 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

Exo 4:12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

There is never an excuse that is good enough to cause God to change His mind, beyond a total rejection!

When we know we are inadequate to commit to the work God has given to us, then we also know that we must give God the glory for any accomplishment that comes by our work!

We must get one thing straight in our minds that it is the Lord and not man who controls the affairs of the world!

We must also understand that God will give His message to those He calls!

*****Jer 1:9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

We are to listen when God speaks.

We are to obey when God commands.

We are to trust when God promises.

When we get these three things mastered then we are almost ready to serve the Lord!

These things cannot be accomplished without a New Birth!

To be "Born Again" is to be changed from our own unrighteousness into the perfect righteousness of the Lord, one day at a time.

When we are adopted into the family of God, our Heavenly Father will begin to teach us about Holiness, and not just any holiness, but the holiness of His Dear Son!

We must also understand that every "Babe in Christ" needs sometime to be discipled in the ways of the Lord. It can only happen as the Lord touches their lips and gives them His Words!

What comes out of our mouths must be of the Word of God!

Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

When the Lord calls us and equips us, then He will direct us in where we are to go.

*****Jer 1:10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

What Jeremiah's calling?

Jeremiah was to tell these people what God had planned for the future if there was no repentance. Jeremiah was to be a Prophet called of God!

If the children of Israel would repent God would plant them on their lands and they could build onto their great nation.

If there was no repentance then God would root out the evil and forsake His people who had forsaken Him, God would pull down the magnificent structures of David and Solomon, even the Temple and no one would be able to escape these things. God would destroy their homeland.

We know that God did all these things just has His Prophet had said!

Zec 1:6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

But God never forgets what He has already done!

Jer 31:28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.

Jer 31:29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.

Jer 31:30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

There was a partial fulfilling of these things when King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their nation in the 70 years that Jeremiah had said but a greater fulfilling in our day as Israel returns to the land God had given to them as most every prophet foretold.

*****Jer 1:11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.

Jer 1:12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

In Palestine, the Almond tree is the first tree to bloom and the first tree to bear fruit.

We should understand from this vision that Jeremiah was the only prophet to see most of his prophesy fulfilled before he died but this does not mean we are to skip over this great book. It fact we would be foolish to do so!

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

This statement includes the Book of Jeremiah.

These things mean that we must always be aware of the things happening around us.

We must always realize that God will absolutely do as He says if He does not see the repentance that lovingly asks for!

When God says, "behold I come quickly", He means what He says here also!

The blossoms of the almond tree were a sure sign that Winter was over, and Spring had begun.

We must understand that when we see events take place that have been described by the prophets it teaches us that God's will is taking place just as He said. God will always be true to His Word!

In the Book of Ezekiel, we see these words.

Eze 7:10 Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.

Eze 7:11 Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them.

Eze 7:12 The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.

Jeremiah would preach the truth of repentance all his days but much like Noah, the Word of God would be rejected, and God would od just as He said.

Over and over we see in the Old Testament that God speaks by His priest and prophets and the nation of Israel will reject the Word of God and most times it is the sin of pride that has gotten in their veins.

We should not understand that the Lord is waiting for certain things to take place when He is actually watching them take place. Nothing catches the Lord of guard.

He has known the ending to the beginning all the way back to before He created our and said, "let there be light".

There is not one thing that can catch the Lord God Almighty off guard!

Psa 111:6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

Psa 111:7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

Psa 111:8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

God does not change! The Old Testament is full of examples of what God has already done and we are to learn from our mistakes also, because we know the God will never change His ways.

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

When the Lord Comes, He will come quickly!

Again, the Lord shows Jeremiah another vision.

*****Jer 1:13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.

Jer 1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

A seething pot would be like a kettle full of rapidly boiling water.

The seething pot shows us the terror and confusion that would fill the city of Jerusalem when her enemies came and they would come from the North.

The word "seething" found in the Strong’s Dictionary means: blow, breath, give up, cause to lose [life], seething, snuff.

The word "pot" also a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication a hook: - caldron, fishhook, pan, ([wash-]) pot, thorn.

That word North mean not only direction but also means gloomy and unknown.

We will see that in reality these words speak of a siege of Jerusalem.

The patience of God was wearing thin for Jerusalem and the nation of Judah and these things speak of a time when these Jews would see terror and confusion like they had never seen.

We need to understand that when we speak of the Word of God, then we must see it clearly ourselves. Another reason God says for us to study the Scriptures.

When we understand what God is saying "good or bad" we must not be ashamed to tell it to others!

God will always use things in His own creation to teach us these Bible truths!

In the New Testament Jesus Christ used parables to teach and each parable would teach a Heavenly truth.

Nowhere in all the Scriptures will we see that God uses fables to teach His truth!

We may also notice that just before these visions Jeremiah had confessed his ignorance and inability to do what God was calling him to do!

A good thought is, it is not the gift of sight, used here on Jeremiah that distinguishes one man from another, it is the gift hearing where we can say, "we hear a voice that those who are lost cannot hear!

Rom_10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

This is God's way during the Church Age!

Jeremiah was not to show these people of Judah great and powerful things; his job was to preach the words God had given to him through the Holy Spirit!

It should be obvious that those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ will see the wrath of God!

Sin has a penalty.

Sin has consequences.

When we live in wickedness, we condemn our ourselves to the "judgement of God"

We will die and be forever separated from a Holy God who tried His best to save this entire world and is still trying to convince those who do not know Him to seek Him, so they can also know Him!

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Jas 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

For those who are lost and reject the Word of God, there is an evil that is surely coming to them!

These things are all true because it is Jehovah that sits on His Throne in Heaven and He is His Own Counselor!

*****Jer 1:15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

Jer 1:16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

We should understand that when the Lord takes His time to teach us heavenly things, it is good that we follow His teachings!

Preaching God's Judgment would be a very hard thing to do for Jeremiah. He loved his nation, but he loved his Heavenly Father much more!

We are wrong when we do not share the bad news to non-believers, but we are even more wrong when we do not share God's "Good News" of the "Saving Grace" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah had one task, he was to preach only the words gave to him!

Not philosophies.

Not psychologies.

Not ideas.

Not theologies.

Not according to their own beliefs.

*****Jer 1:17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.

God warns us of our own backsliding.

God warns us of quitting on Him.

God warns us of turning away from His Word!

Whatever mission God has chosen for us, we must complete that mission!

God explains to each of us that our mission is to deliver His Words!

God explains to us that we must go to where we are sent!

God is responsible for the outcome!

God will avenge those who are persecuted for doing what He has said to do!

If we twist the Word of God into some other meaning, then we should fear the wrath of God.

If we are faithful to do what God asks us to do, then we have no reason to fear the wrath of God. It is just that simple!

When we gird up the loins of our mind it is saying we are prepared to get into the battle with the truth of God our only weapon and our faith is our armament, our shield!

God warns us against backsliding and turning away from our task. Remember when we turn and run there is no armor on our backside but the armor we wear cannot be penetrated from the front!

To gird up our loins is to be prepared to enter this battle with evil and to not look back!

Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

We are on the winning side and we must never forget this is true also!

*****Jer 1:18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

Jer 1:19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

We know from reading the Book of Jeremiah that he was known as the weeping prophet but here we can also know that Jeremiah was given a strength that no power on earth could overcome!

Jeremiah was invincible until the task God had chosen for him was complete. Jeremiah would outlive every insult that he received!

Notice that if all those in the land turn against Jeremiah he would triumph over them.

Notice if was a king with all the power of a king, Jeremiah would triumph.

Notice if it was all the priests , Jeremiah would triumph.

Then God said, they will certainly fight against Jeremiah, but they would not be able to overcome Jeremiah.

Why should we ever worry when we do what God tells us to do!

Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

We already know that the Lord is no respecter of persons and what he did for Jeremiah, He will do for you!

God did not say Jeremiah would not suffer and He did.

God just told Jeremiah that He was on the winning side!

If we read the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, on toward the back of the Book it plainly states that all those who love the Lord are on the winning side.

Never allow this world to teach you differently!

Amen

Let's Pray!

Christians and the Government

Order Between the Church and Governments

Book of Titus Chapter 3

As we get into this lesson we must realize, this passage is not about the rulers of government and their behavior, because God has chosen them according to His continuing will.

Paul is writing to Titus and the Church, to each believer and our duty to the state.

In most cases we can do very little about the authorities and our government, or how they conduct their affairs.

The one thing we can do, is when we get the opportunity to vote, we vote for those who claim to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior even if we know it could affect our incomes. God will hold them accountable!

We should never forget that God has promised to provide our needs in every situation!

We know by now that God is very, very clear about the behavior of every believer!

We know that one of the evilest of the Caesars, Nero was ruler of the entire Roman Kingdom at the time Paul wrote these words to Titus and to the Church. Not many rulers have been as evil Nero though there have been some.

*****Tit 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

As Christians who are citizens of Heaven and preside right now in the nations of this world, we are to obey the laws of the nation where we are located.

It is our duty to obey those who are in authority in the places where we live.

This includes the local government and the national government!

We as Christians are to be subject of and obedient to them by the laws in place!

It should be obvious we should never do anything that goes against the will of God at any time!

In most all governments there is an attempt to keep the peace and to put down all chaos.

We should see this passage as the commands of God, as we do in all the Word of God!

The Holy Spirit would not have used the word "subject" if we were not to obey our rulers for the sake of public good.

Our conscience, by the Holy Spirit, upheld by the Word of God, will dictate our actions when our own government causes chaos to Christians.

It is the governments job to keep law and order, so societies can flourish rather than be as the unruly beast as described of the people of Crete.

If there were no communities, nor societies, and no life, there would only be selfishness and lawlessness.

As Christians we are to set the example for all others in this world to see, while showing the fruit of the Holy Spirit!

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

When laws are written to outlaw the fruit of the Holy Spirit, then we must obey the Lord above all governments!

We must understand that chaos is not in the will of God.

Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Law and order in every land is in the will of God!

Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

When we claim to be Christians, God expects us to act like Christians in every situation we face!

1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

As Christian citizens, we are to always be ready to do "good works"!

In most all cases it is the Christian who should be the first to reach out to meet the needs of the community where we live, and all communities have needs!

Our Pastor would not be run down all the time, if he did not feel the need for what he does, and we should be no different!

In fact, we could say here at Gethsemane, our Pastor can be our example in the doing of good works in our own community!

*****Tit 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

No one, Christian or lost, should be slandered or verbally abused and torn down!

We must understand that we do certainly live in an evil world and there will be somethings that we must bear.

I read something today that said if Donald Trump had not become president, we would never have known all the corruptness of the previous administration and the abuse behind the backs of the people. I’m sure we have not heard it all yet and no one would admit the abuse of women and children that was going on by people in high places.

If people shut their eyes to corrupt governments, these things will never change!

As Christians we are not to slander anyone nor speak evil against any citizen, not even those who have proven to be evil.

This is the Word of God and not my interpretation of the Word of God. Verse 2 says speak evil of no man and this includes women.

Meekness is the surrender to all the Divine Will of God, but we are still to be bold in presenting the Word of God to all who will listen to us.

We must totally understand that we will never reach the lost when we slander them and put them down. They already know how to be lost our job is to teach them how to be saved!

Pro 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

We are never to be a fighting, contentious, person.

We are never to walk around like we have a chip on our shoulder.

We should never be looking for an argument or a fight over the Scriptures.

But we must always take a stand on the truth of God under all circumstances!

Pro 3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

As Christians we must be gentle. Men will understand this better by saying courteous rather than gentle.

We as Christians we are to reach out to all the people of the world with the "Gospel”, so we can explain God's "grace" which is the absolute best way we can show our gentleness!

Meekness is strong self-control as we know that the Lord had to possess when He spent His time on this earth!

We have no better example than the Lord Jesus in all these things.

We must remember where we came from!

*****Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

We are still only sinners who have partaken of the "Grace" of God!

The person who continues to reject the truth of God, is certainly a foolish person!

Foolish means, having no understanding of Spiritual matters as used in this Scripture.

We are not to call them fools but their actions are indeed foolish.

Praise God, He will still save the foolish. I know because I was once a fool!

Everyone who rejects God is also disobedient, which means they refuse to obey the Word of God!

Today we have more problems with our younger generation because they do not obey their parents, which leads to disrespect of all authority and we see much more violence in our streets!

Psa 53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

Psa 53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

Psa 53:3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

We must claim the Word of God and be obedient to it!

2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

All those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ are deceived by this world, which means being misled and led astray of the truth of God.

2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

All those without the Lord Jesus Christ are enslaved by the lust of this world. How do I know? I was once amongst them!

That word "lusts" means passionate cravings, passionate desires, passionate urges, that we allow to dictate our actions by giving into them!

All those who are lost are enslaved by the works of this world in one way or another!

The Lord Jesus Christ gives us the strength to overcome these things.

Everyone in this world faces temptations, but the Lord shows us by example how to overcome them!

This Scripture, (verse 3) should not bother those who love the Lord because we know what we once were. Thank the Lord "I use to be one of these" but not anymore!

Those who live without the Lord are evil in nature and most have an evil disposition!

These are those same people who look for the worst in people and set out to ruin their testimony!

These are the very same ones who put themselves first no matter how it affects others including those they say they care about!

1Co 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

A person without God most always lives in envy, they covet the possessions of others. In fact, they covet them so much they will seek ways to take them away from that person.

We live in a world where most everyone you meet are not satisfied with the life they lead but not many of them care to change.

Envy can also cause depression along with other physical problems which may lead to lawlessness!

Pro 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

We must also know that those who are without the Lord can be very hateful!

It is very easy to hate others if you do not know the love of God!

Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

We live in a world of hate and the one who is hated the most is, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Hatred will consume you until it destroys you. I serve a God who is called Love because He has no hate for any human being!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

*****Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

People just do not understand that there is power in kindness!

In fact, our salvation comes from the "kindness" of our Savior!

Without God's kindness we would never know God's "Grace"!

The pattern of all kindness is set before us in the Bible, in the behavior of God toward us!

The wealth of God's "grace" is shown to us in the Lord Jesus Christ!

God is not far off having no concern for His creation!

In fact, to the "Born Again" child of God, God is very near to each one who wears the seal of the Holy Spirit because He dwells within each Christian!

All those who say they cannot get their prayers answered, maybe they first need to repent of their sin! God has promised to answer every prayer that reaches into His throne room!

God is not some Supreme Being hovering over every human being to smack them down every time they make a mistake.

God is also not some loving Grandfather type being, that allows just anything to go on.

In fact, God hates worldliness!

Salvation comes from God’s love for each of us!

God reached out to man because as the Supreme Creator, God has great affection for all His Creation!

God loves us so much that He acted to save each one of us!

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The one thing we must realize is that we cannot work our way into Heaven. God gave us all the Scriptures, so we can understand what He has already done and just believe in the Son of God who paid the sin debt of every human being, no matter where they come from!

It is a fact we cannot earn our righteousness by good works because we have no good works.

Common sense says we are all just growing older until we die and if we would just open our eyes we would see that all God's creation is just ageing to the point that one day it will not exist!

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Salvation comes only by God's "Mercy" which has been dipped into God's "Grace"!

God sees the need for our salvation and provides the only method by which we can be saved!

Mic 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

So just how does God save us?

By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit)!

There is no other means of salvation!!!!!

Salvation is a regeneration!

Salvation is a new birth.

Salvation is Spiritual New Birth!

Being "born again" is a definite experience!

Being "born again" is a noticeable changed life!

Being "born again" is a totally new life!

Salvation can only through the Lord Jesus Christ, no matter what the Oprah and the rest of the world says. God says it and that settles it!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who pours out the Holy Spirit upon us and within us.

We could not have the Holy Spirit except by the Lord Jesus Christ!

The power of the Christian is the Holy Spirit, so when you say you have no power to standup for the Lord, then you are saying that the Holy Spirit has no power, when the Holy Spirit is the most powerful force that exist!

Without the Holy Spirit we cannot be a child of God!

Without the Holy Spirit we will remain totally unacceptable to God!

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

All the work of the Church is powerless without the Holy Spirit.

The biggest problem with the church in this Church Age is that the Holy Spirit has been quench by false doctrine in many places of worship!

We cannot be justified without the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are without Christian power without the Holy Spirit.

We are without salvation without the "Grace" of God.

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

If you still do what you use to do, then you are not saved, it is just that simple!

*****Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

If this is a faithful saying, then this is a warning to all to all those who call themselves Christian!

We must be careful to maintain good works after our salvation!

Salvation does not mean any sort of works have saved us and it does not mean that any sort of works will keep us saved, it only means that the works we do after salvation are just the opposite from the works we did before salvation.

If other people cannot see Jesus Christ in us and the works of Jesus that we should be doing, then we are not saved, bearing in mind the baby Christian who is still learning what God expects from them!

1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

We will now see the second warning in verse 9.

The Word of God is not to be debated. As believers we must reject foolish and controversial discussions that go against the Word of God!

We have the truth and the truth cannot be debated, it is what it is!

This includes foolish questions, God says what He means, and God means what He says.

Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

We are wasting our time on genealogies. Just as all Jews spring from Abraham and Sarah, just because Abraham trusted in the Lord did not mean that all Jews were saved.

Just because my mother and my grandmother, and many others who have gone on to meet with the Lord, had faith in the truth of God, it does not make me also to be saved.

Being restored in a fellowship with God can only be settled with our own personal relationship with Him!

There are 613 Jewish laws and those who would argue and strive over those laws are foolish because it was impossible for anyone to keep all those laws all the time.

Even as a baby we are all born into sin!

The Jews had preserved all the Old Testament, but all the Old Testament will only lead you to the coming of Jesus Christ!

Contention is strife in words or debate; quarrel; angry contest; controversy. The Word of God is the absolute truth of our world and of ourselves and no debate can change the truth of God!

If you will take time to get personal with God the Father, you will also know God the Son, who is the Lord Jesus Christ!

2Ti 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

Let's look at warning number three.

*****Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Tit 3:11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

A heretic is someone who rejects some or all the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

God says that we cannot pick and choose what parts of the Scriptures we will believe and what part we refuse to accept as the truth.

This is the second reason that there are so many different translations today.

The first reason is that the KJV Bible copyright has expired and with many changes to the Scriptures, some can get a new copyright and therefore they are in it for the money, they are not sincere about your salvation!

When we try to pick and choose what we believe, we have called God a liar!

1Jn 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

This is the one true Scripture that is rejected the most today and Paul wrote to Titus, by the Holy Spirit, to prepare these Churches to defend the truth of God!

Anyone, I say anyone, who rejects the truth of God and chooses what they believe while rejecting the Word of God is bound for Hell because this sin cannot be forgiven!

This is the same for those who would take the Word of God and twist it to become a different meaning from what God intended!

These who will do such things will not only answer for themselves at the White Throne Judgement, but they will also answer for everyone they have led astray from the truth of God!

2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

There may be many different opinions of what God means but those who intentionally seek to promote discord in the church will see the wrath of God and not the "Grace" of God!

All heretics need to be removed from the church!

And now Paul will begin to close out these Scriptures.

*****Tit 3:12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.

Paul had some other things to discuss with Titus, so he was going to send Artemas or Tychicus to replace him until he could return.

We already know that Tychicus would travel to take the Word of God to the many places where the many churches were established but he could also step in for any other Pastor.

Not much is known about Artemas except to say he was trusted to preach the truth of the Word of God and would go where he was sent.

Tradition states that Artemas became the Pastor at the church at Lystra.

His name Artemas means given by Diana, which would mean that he had at one time been a worshiper of this pagan goddess.

And Paul continues:

*****Tit 3:13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.

Just as Artemas, this is the only place we see this lawyer named Zenas.

It is very possible that Zenas and Apollos had been sent to help Titus on the Island of Crete. We can also see that Zenas was someone who could not devote all his time to the Church. Like many he had to support himself, so he could be in the ministry without the help of the church but with much help from the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is always good to have a lawyer who loves the Lord and Paul needed advice from this lawyer as he soon would be defending himself before Nero.

Some say Zenas was a Jew, but his name would seem to connect him to the pagan god Zeus, who had been converted to Christianity.

It should be clear that the Lord needs committed laymen in the Church, those who will not rob God of His tithes and offerings.

Apollos was a Jew born in Alexandria who had been well versed in the Old Testament but did not know the Lord Jesus Christ until he met Aquila and his wife Priscilla who taught him the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

It could be that Titus was in possession of the funds necessary to pay the expenses of this trip to join the Apostle Paul and Paul knew or Paul had given this fund to Titus when he was sent to the island of Crete.

*****Tit 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Good works are those works that grow out of a loving personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

It should be obvious that those sitting in the pews are to support the Church and also support the missionaries and evangelist.

It is our job as Christians to support those who take the "Gospel" to all the places in this world beginning with our own communities, and our own families.

1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Those who are the richest are all those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

*****Tit 3:15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

As life goes on and no matter where we travel, all those who claim the Lord Jesus Christ, are our brothers and sisters in Christ and we need to treat them that way!

All those with Paul were also praying for the church or churches on the Island of Crete and we must also pray for the other churches we know of!

If we cannot support those we call missionaries and evangelists and Pastors, we can certainly urgently pray for them!

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

2Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

2Th 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

When we cannot help our brothers and sisters in Christ, who gave Himself for us, it does not speak well for us!

Thank goodness that we have our own Church here at Gethsemane that supports not only the church but also many missionaries.

There are always those who rob God of His tithes and offerings.

Amen

Let's Pray!