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Sunday, May 13, 2018

Christian Behavior

Order in Christian Homes (Christian Behavior)

Book of Titus Chapter 2

Verse 16 of chapter 1 describes the hypocrite the false preacher or teacher.

Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Again, Christian behavior does not mean we are to debate those who say they know God but do not live what they preach.

It is a shame that we need someone to teach us how to behave but, in our world, today these things are not taught at all or at least it seems that way.

In fact, for many reasons there is no instruction in the homes of today and the instruction in the schools is controlled by the government both local and federal and in most cases, learning will be non-existent but the swaying of the minds of our children will be abused for political reasons.

Because of the societies we live in, it seems that no one knows how to behave.

God says we never did know how to behave and He has also said these things will get worse.

The Island of Crete, which is now called Candia is an island 140 miles long and 35 miles wide. At one time there were at least 100 cities upon this island.

In the day of Paul these Cretins were described as always liars, evil beast with slow bellies. In other words, with every breath they take the only concern they have is how to feed their own bellies.

There were no wild beasts left upon this island but those who lived there were considered to be the wild beast of this island.

Kind of sounds like the America we live in today!

The only way to overcome these things was to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and live the life of a true Christian.

This is what Paul sent Titus to this island to do. Teach these people the truth of God, so they could come to know the language of the love of God!

We know that the first chapter dealt with behavior in the church.

This chapter in the Book of Titus deals with godly behavior in the home.

*****Tit 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

We must understand that God has set a standard for the life of each Christian!

Our behavior inside the church.
Our behavior outside the church.
Our behavior inside the family.

Our behavior must reflect the gift the "Grace" God has given to us as a gift. We must receive it as a gift which means we should be very thankful.
Our behavior must reflect the sealing of the Holy Spirit along with the fruit that the Holy Spirit brings.
Our behavior must reflect the hope of God's glory, which is a sure hope and we must maintain these things daily.

Christianity is not what we were it is what we are!
Christianity must be based upon "faith". Not just any "faith" but faith in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation!

It is only the truth of sound doctrine that will lead us to these things! We once lived as sinners, we must repent by being taught to live as Christians because none of us knew how to live as Christians!

We must clearly understand as Christians, we cannot remain silent while false teachers are allowed to continue with their lies in the house of God.

They will continue if there are people in the church who refuse to repent which is the theme behind most all false teaching.

We should also understand that sound doctrine can only come from God the Father!

Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Joh 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Joh 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

The false teacher is always seeking his own glory! We can say that as the end time of the Church Age draws nigh some false teachers are not ashamed to give Satan the glory.

God's wrath will soon be shown to those who do so! Don't be one who has fallen into this trap because you do not know the Word of God yourself. Knowing what God has already said to us, is our best defense

Titus was not to leave anyone out as He taught God's "Grace" but there is an order in the house of God and in the family that must be followed.

*****Tit 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

These were not then the elders of the church except to say they were the elderly men.

Let's face it men, we are to be the examples that our wives and our children are to follow. This cannot happen unless we are following the Lord ourselves!

1) We must first be sober. This has nothing to do with drinking alcohol. We already know that God says no to that!

Sober means we are to be cautious and watchful knowing that the younger generation will be looking to us for life's answers. We do not have all the answers, but we know who does.

We are to also to be that perfect spouse to those we say we love and we too are look to Jesus Christ for our own answers.

1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

2) We must be grave. To be grave is to be honorable! As the aged men we already hold a distinguished rank in most societies and as Christians this rank should show even more.

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

3) We are to be temperate.

We are to be sound in our minds always having self-control and disciplined in the ways of Jesus Christ.

We have no greater example than our Lord in all these things!

We must have complete control over all our lustful desires. Neither our age nor our retirement gives us an excuse to just allow our lives to just slip away into nothingness!

God expects us to work for Him until He calls us home!

Pro 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

4) We must be sound in our faith.

The word "sound" used here means not only to have a sound mind but also to be sound in our faith. Not shaky or defective, not decaying, but perfect, as we can be in our faith in the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

A healthy faith is an enduring faith!

Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

5) We must also be sound in our charity.

We must show that agape love of our Savior to all those who are looking!

We must have and show that brotherly union with all our brothers and sister in Christ Jesus! One mind. One accord.

1Th 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
1Th 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

6) We must be sound in our patience.

We must endure the trials of our faith as we continue in the work of the Lord, no matter the obstacles in our path, knowing the Lord will deliver us out of them all.

2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

God is no respecter of mankind, so He expects the same of the aged women. We call them Grandmothers or maybe momma number 2, or MIMI or some other name usually chosen by the grandchildren.

*****Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

The same qualities that are desired in the aged man are required in the aged women, that be in behavior as becometh holiness.

We should understand that in the highest sense, holiness can only belong to Jehovah God, because He is absolutely "good"!

Luk 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

So even our holiness and goodness must come from the Lord Jesus as our example in all things in this life and then in our eternal life we will have reached His perfection!

When we are wholly consecrated to God's service having the mind of Christ and knowing the will of God for our lives and acting on God's will for us we begin to become that word "holiness".

Holiness begins with repentance and turning toward our Holy God!

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Holiness is given of God to those that love the Lord Jesus Christ and now strive to walk in His ways!

Holiness cannot come to us, unless we have "faith" in the life-giving work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Holiness cannot come to us, unless we have surrendered our soul to the safe keeping of our Heavenly Father!

Holiness cannot come to us, unless we are sealed by God the Holy Spirit, and show the fruit of the Spirit!

In fact, when we say to God, "hallowed be thy name", it means we have already dedicated ourselves to God.

It is then that these aged women can be the teacher of good things!

They then have the God given ability to teach the younger women all these things.

We immediately notice that the Pastor is not to teach the younger women and we should be able to understand the many reason why!

These younger women are to be taught by the older women!

1) These younger women can be taught to be sober.

Sober means they are also to be cautious and watchful knowing that their children will be looking to them for life's answers. We do not have all the answers, but we know who does.

2) They will know how to love their husbands according to the Word of God, knowing the head of that husband is Christ just has He is the Head of her life and it is then that she will follow the lead of her husband, in the order God has taught us.

God is a God of order!

Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

To be discreet, is to be wise in avoiding evil and to know the answer to every question is the Lord Jesus Christ.

To be pure, is to be free from all obscenity and immorality.

To be a keeper of the home, is to recognize the order of the family and raise that family according to the truth of God.

To be good, is to have physical qualities that adapt freely to the commands of God.

In everything these women are to make application of the Word of God to their lives just as the men.

The young men are also to be sober minded.

*****Tit 2:6 Young men "likewise" exhort to be sober minded.

Here we see that the Pastor is to be involved with the teaching of the younger men in some way.

It is very important for the younger men of today to understand the Word of God. How to act in the church, how to act in the home, and how to act in the world before they become aged if possible.

Again, to be sober minded means they are to be cautious and watchful as they too look for life's answers. When they come to us they need to know that we do not have all the answers, but we know who does.

In another place Paul writes to flee from youthful lust because our lust will lead to sin.

In fact, the Apostle John said it this way.

1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

To be a real man is to be disciplined and controlled and to focus on meaningful things the first being "what will happen to me when I die", the next being God does not promise us the next day, so we need to be prepared always.

*****Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Titus was not an aged man at this time, but probably in his younger years, so he should be able to be a great example to all the churches on the Island of Crete.

These instructions, as commands, can also be added to the instructions to the younger men who become pastors and missionaries.

Every Pastor is to show himself an example to others, in the church!

This was Paul's advice to both Titus and Timothy as young Pastors sold out to God.

We can be sure that the Apostle Paul used these same guidelines in every Church that he planted.

We as God's children are to be examples to our families and to all those who see us from day to day!

Every Pastor must live what he preaches.
His behavior must match his preaching.
His life must not tear down what the Word of God builds up.
He must shine like the light of Jesus.

This is extremely important for the young men in the church as Titus himself was a young man.

How does the Pastor know he is preaching the right doctrine? He must preach all the Word of God because God guarantees that His words will not come back void, but this cannot be said about our own words!

The first concern of every Pastor must be that he leads by example. His instruction in the Word of God must then follow his example.

The first thing people see when we approach them, is who we are. They have already judged us.

We could say that our words will mean nothing if our behavior does not match what we say!

In fact, people have the right to expect the Pastor and the teacher to live what they preach and teach!

Many do not pray as they should, and many do not study the Scriptures as they should!

Discipling cannot happen without the preachers and teachers being an example in good works.

It is easy for me to see where I fail as I study the Scriptures!

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.

Even the Centurion who stood by the cross realized that Christ Jesus was indeed the Son of God by the way that He suffered and then gave His life for no man could take the life of our Savior, He gave His life for us all!

Mar 15:39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Jesus Christ is the example for us all to follow!

The Word of God must be taught with "dignity" and "honesty" which is the meaning of "gravity".

The Word of God must be taught with "sincerity". Those who cannot have faith in what they are teaching, can never be sincere in what they are teaching!

As Christians we must always share in the responsibility of declaring the Word of God. The Pastor is to preach the truth of God, rightly divided and those sitting in the pews are study the Scriptures themselves to make sure that the Pastor always preaches the truth.

It is the truth of God that we must guard against all those who would twist and turn God's Word into lies!

Only the Word of God is "sound speech"!
Only the Word of God cannot be condemned!
Only the Word of God does not contain evil!

It is the job of each Christian to stop our adversaries from destroying the truth of God.

The Scribes and the Pharisees watched the Lord Jesus very closely to see if He obeyed the Word of God and we know that He did because He had no sin in Him!

The preacher is to preach the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ is that is the power of God unto salvation! No other gospel can cause salvation!

God takes all the blame when His Word does not do as He says! Therefore, we must never abandon God's message!

Now after instructions for the aged men and aged women and young men and young ladies the Holy Spirit turns His attention to servants. In the day of Paul. These could be slaves as there were many slaves, but also to those who served any man for an income which we can associate to our job and the source of our own income!

*****Tit 2:9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
Tit 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

In the day of the Apostle Paul there were millions of slaves throughout the Roman Empire. Many of those would come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and so would many of the Masters of those slaves.

The Word of God needed to be precisely taught, in order to not cause confusion among these two groups of people.

The Word of God makes us free from this world but as long as we are in the world, we will have to abide by the laws of man as long as they do not go against the Word of God!

We are all to please our own masters when it can be done without sin!

We must understand that slavery does not come under attack in the New Testament because God has a better plan.

God does not approve of slavery! Slavery is a creation of evil men! Salvation in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only answer to slavery!
Slavery is still wide spread today because of the love of money and the lack of love for human beings.

Just like those who offer abortions, the love of money is more important than the love of human life!

All mankind are equal in the eyes of God.
All Christians have the same Father in Heaven who loves us all the same.
We as Christians can be made free spiritually, no matter our circumstances in this world.
No matter our standing in this world, Jesus Christ is our One True Lord and every knee will one day bow to Him!

Christian workmen are to be obedient to all things in the workplace, the exception being those things that would cause him or her to sin.

We must understand the workplace, is God's opportunity to provide for that family.
We must understand that the work itself, is a chance to serve humanity by providing a needed service, in fact if the work we do does not provide a service to humanity then we may need to hunt another job.
We are to look at the work we do as serving the Lord Jesus rather than some other human being lord over us.

The Christian worker is to follow the instructions in the workplace.
The Christian worker should be the best worker in that place of employment.
There should never be back talk from that Christian worker.
The Christian worker should never steal from the work place.
The Christian worker is to always be trustworthy and loyal to his place of employment.
The Christian worker is set the example of being Christlike no matter where he or she works.

Let's remember why all these things must be true to the Word of God!

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

We might say " this is another thing we can blame on Adam and Eve”, but this is only partially true because we were never to be a people who are not to work.

Gen 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

The truth is that no matter where God has placed us we are always to do our best. This is the answer to all the questions about our work ethic!

Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

These things should never be too hard for the Christian!

*****Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

It should be obvious that when the Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood on Mount Calvary, it was for every human being. God does not leave anyone out. We as humans do this ourselves when we reject the Word of God!

As we have gone through these passages we have seen the glory of God's "Grace".

How does the average man or woman see "grace"?

1) Grace is that quality that makes things beautiful.
2) Grace is anything that has loveliness.
3) Grace is a gift or a favor someone might do for a friend.

How does the "Grace of God compare?

The Lord Jesus Christ died for all sinners, who were His enemies, and this does not leave anyone out.

1) Grace is the absolute favor of God given as a gift. Grace then is the favor of God to man who did not deserve His favor!
2) Grace is the kindness and love that God freely gives to His enemies!
3) Grace expresses the depth and richness of the heart and mind of God.

A man may on occasion may do something for his friends and be said to be gracious.

God freely gave God the Son Jesus to die for all His enemies.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

God's "Grace" cannot be earned, it is in fact completely undeserved and unmerited!

God's "Grace" is the totally free gift of God!

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

God's Grace is our only means for salvation!

Rom 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

God's Grace means all the good and beneficial things that God has given to us and all the wonderful things that God has done for us and keeps on doing!

The truth is we fall so short of God's glory, but it is our faith in the Work of Jesus Christ that is the cause of God's grace which closes the gap between us.

We could say that God's Grace is in fact, Jesus Christ!

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Death then is no more an obstacle to our life which becomes eternal life with our God!

The "good news" is that God's "Grace" by Jesus Christ, has brought salvation to all who call upon His name!

Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

So, what does God's "grace" teach us?

*****Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

What do we learn by the "Grace" of God?

**God's "grace" comes by the Lord Jesus Christ. God's grace teaches us to deny all ungodliness.

We are to mortify our flesh and take on the flesh of Jesus!

We are to reject, renounce, give up, and have nothing to do with ungodliness!

It’s like saying no to drugs but here all ungodliness! Ungodliness can be described as all wickedness and disregard for God and all the things of God, including God's children.

All the children of God will miss the wrath of God, but God's wrath will be revealed from Heaven against "all" ungodliness!

**God's "grace" comes by the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to mortify our flesh, so we can avoid worldly lust! Lust is any longing or desire, or having a craving, for the things that God has forbidden us to have or to partake in.

Remember Adam and Eve!

Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Worldly lust would be all the desires of this world, that are not fit to be in Heaven!

There is nothing in this world we can present to God but the dirty rotten sinner that we are!

How do we describe these things?

Lusts will stir us to look, when we should not look.
Lusts will cause us to do, when we should not do.
Lusts will cause to get, when we should give more.
Lusts will cause us to be selfish and vicious, when we should sacrifice more and be kind.
Lusts will cause us to be immoral, when we should keep our selves pure.
Lusts will cause us to seek recognition in this world, rather than seek the recognition of God.

Worldly lusts will cause us to desire the things of this world, that attach us to this world, when we are only passing through this world, our home is in Heaven and nothing of this world will be in Heaven, but all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

If what we are doing are things that we would rather that God did not see, then it is sin to do those things!

Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

What else does the Word of God teach us?

**We are to live soberly. We must have self- control! We must be disciplined to the Word of God!

We will restrain the desires of our lust, and the desires to get more and more of this world.

We will save ourselves for our marriage.
We will control our desire for the material things of this world.
The one many of us have the most trouble with, we must control our desires for food and desire good health.

The longer we live, the longer we can serve God!

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.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

**We will live righteously. Righteously means doing things right, according to the Word of God.

We will treat others like we should, not the way this world treats most everyone! We will treat them as good as we treat ourselves.

We are to have no respect of persons but treat everyone with the same righteousness.

Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Php 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

**We are called Christians if we are like Christ! We are to live our life upon this earth as Jesus Christ led His life upon this earth.

If we are not looking forward to the day of Christ like it is tomorrow or even today, then we are not thinking right.

The Blessed Hope is the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Lord Jesus Christ will one day appear in the Eastern sky without warning, in all the "Glory of His majesty.

We must always be aware that the Lord could return to redeem the church He purchased with His own blood, at any time!

The blessed hope and the appearing of our Lord are both the same thing!

What is so great about the "blessed hope"?

"Blessed" means to be filled with happiness, prosperity, not riches but richness, all the benefits of a home in the glory world.

The "blessed hope" is the same day we will meet the Lord Jesus face to face.

Those who are not ready to meet Jesus, need to get ready!

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The "Blessed Hope" is also the day we will be reunited with our loved ones and friends forever, who also trusted in the Lord!

This is the same day our own bodies will be glorified as that body that the Lord returned to Heaven in.

1Jn_3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

There will be no more pain, no more trials, no more suffering, no more evil and no more death!

There will be a brand new perfect world, of love, of joy and of peace!

Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

This will be the same time that we will see the rewards that Jesus will present to us but also the same day we will know the rewards that we could have gotten had we been true to Him all our saved days.

This will be the day we see our new home in the house of the Lord.

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

We can have all these things because the Lord gave Himself for us that we might live with Him!

The Lord Jesus Christ died for all our sins, He was our substitute!

Jesus Christ took all the sin since the time of Adam upon Himself and He buried all that sin in Hell where it was intended to be!

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

By our "faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will be saved and set free from sin and sin's penalty!

Jesus Christ has made us to be peculiar people upon this earth, so we could be shaped for our new life!

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Jesus Christ died for us so that we could live for Him!

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.

It is all these things we must share with this lost and dying world! Just Paul did, just as Timothy did, just as Titus did and just as the Lord Jesus Christ did!

*****Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

The "grace" of God is to be proclaimed loudly and boldly to this world!

The church of today is filled with a bunch of wimps, who are ashamed of the 'Gospel"!

We are to preach or teach or witness to people the wonderful, the perfect, "Grace of God"!

We are to rebuke those who do not know the Lord but in the "grace of God".

We are to exhort, or encourage, people in the "grace of God"!

Those who reject the truth of God are fools, but we are not to address them as fools but only as a loving God reaching out to His creation!

Without a doubt, people need to know the truth, because we live in a world filled with the lies of Satan!

The truth of God will always bring results because it opens the doors for Holy Ghost conviction!

Since we have this great knowledge then why do we not share it with others?

Amen!

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Order in the House of God

Order in the Lord's Churches

Book of Titus 1


The Book of Titus was written to Titus and the Church sometime after Paul had written the first Book of Timothy to Timothy and the Church. Titus was a Gentile whereas Timothy was a Jew according to the bloodline of his mother. A Jew can only be a true Jew if they are from the bloodline of Sarah the first wife of Abraham.

Abraham is the father of many nations but only those from the bloodline of Sarah can be considered to be the true Israel!

Paul wrote to Titus to warn against false teachers. Many but not all those false teachers were Jews.
Paul wrote to Titus to set in order the organization of the church and the behavior of true believers.
Paul wrote to Titus to encourage him to proclaim the "Apostle's Doctrine" the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was also Paul who had led Titus to the Lord.

The Book of Titus is the third Book of Scriptures that are known as the Pastoral Epistles!

The Pastoral Epistles deal with the Pastor's care of the church, the oversight, and the organization of the Church that has the foundation of Jesus Christ.

There is no church if Jesus Christ is not the foundation of that church!

These books teach us all how we are to behave in the House of God!

These books also teach us how we are to defend Christianity! This is where we Christians fail the most today. We are too lazy to stand up for the Lord Jesus. What a shame!

Let's begin:

*****Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Tit 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

No building can exist for any length of time if it is not established on a solid foundation. Each Christian has become a Temple of the Lord but even this Temple cannot exist if it is not laid upon a solid foundation and that foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Only when the proper foundation is laid, then that building can grow to its full potential!

Every child of God is called to serve in the House of God and be a messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ. All functions of the Church are secondary to these two things.

In a sense we are all to become slaves to our new Master, Jesus Christ!

In other words, we have given up our own will and serve at the will of our Lord and Master, Jesus.

A man once wrote: Our own will is to be swallowed up in the sweet will of God"

No doubt the modern-day church has forgotten these things. The modern-day church has forgotten the purpose of the church and have allowed the world to dictate the work of the church.

Those who have undermined the foundation, which is to be Christ, are beginning to crumble and fall and this will continue until the Lord returns.

Only when we obey the Words of our Savior can the church properly to do the work that is intended!

Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

There is no excuse for any place where God's people gather, to be confused about the purpose of the Church!

Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Eph 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

There were only 12 Apostles specifically chose by the Lord but, after our own salvation we are all to do the work of the apostle.

As believers we have been chosen to be God's holy and beloved people, a people set apart from this world and away from our old life of sin which brings only death, to a new life and life eternal based upon the righteousness of our Savior!

These things can only take place according to our faith and our knowledge of the truth, which comes only by the truth of God!

God says we must repent from that old life that rejected, ignored and denied and was constantly cursing in the face of God!

Think about that for a moment and try to understand, that it is only by God's love, which is the means of God's "grace", that we can be forgiven of these things!

Our only hope is in fact the Lord Jesus Christ, the God who cannot lie, who took it upon Himself to provide the only path to forgiveness!

Jesus Christ did all the work to allow us to be adopted into the family of God, no more to be separated from Him.

Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Our only work is to believe, have faith in the work that the Lord has done for us, to restore fellowship with our Creator!

Our job then is telling someone else the wonderful things that Jesus has done, so that the Holy Spirit will convict them to know the truth and then they too must make a choice to believe the truth or to reject the truth.

God then will guide us to live godly lives, that is, to follow in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God shows the world that He is real by showing how He can change lives. We as believers are to be a portrait of God's Mercy and Grace.

God has promised an eternal life of amazing wonders to those who trust Him but, also an eternal life of misery to those who reject Him.

I still have a very hard time believing that so many supposedly smart people fall into that trap of evolution!

The hope of eternal life is revealed in the Word of God many times and it is still true today!

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

As Christians we are to show the world our "faith"!

As Christians we know that no one is out of reach to the truth of God!

Isa 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

The Lord has chosen specific men to go out and "PREACH" the Word of God!

God is not somewhere off in space, unconcerned about His creation.
God is not sitting in His place ready to punish mankind for the least thing.
God is not mad at any of us and He never will be.
God is love and it is His desire to save us, so we can spend eternity with Him wherever He is!
God has some qualifications that we must accept the main one being "Faith"!

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

God is seeking a Spiritual relationship with each of us, not just the church, even those who do not yet believe!

*****Tit 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Every Pastor is a spiritual father to each one they lead to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Titus was led to the Lord by the Apostle Paul, as was Timothy and countless others.

It is the "common faith" that we all believe in Jesus Christ just as Paul, and Peter, James, and John, and all the apostles did that brings eternal life to every believer, and this will never change.

Those that say they believe the Word of God but still try to adapt to the world of today, are those same ones who would like their own pet sin to be removed from the truth of God and this is not going to happen!

Grace, Mercy, and Peace can come only by the truth of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior!

The Lord left us with His unchanging command.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things "whatsoever I have commanded you": and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Why would we ever want to fall away from the truth of our Savior, and He says He will never change!

Titus was left by Paul to establish and organize the churches on the Island of Crete using this same "common faith"!

*****Tit 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Tit 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

When we see the terms elder or bishop in these Scriptures, we should think Pastor, or Preacher, or Minister and the gift of Pastor-Teacher will refer to just one gift.

The word "elder" refers to the man's years of faithfulness and service to the church.

The word "bishop" refers to the man's duties and his work overseeing the church that God has assigned to him

These two words are interchangeable!

What are the needs of every church?

1) There is to be a certain order in the church and this cannot go undone or the church will be defective in its work.

It takes time with everyone working for one goal to remove the defects of any church. The church must be organized in the ministry that the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded. Leading souls to Christ and making disciples of them.

False teaching must not be allowed into the church which can only cause divisions and strife in the congregation.

The Church that is not growing in Christ Jesus, is not a true church! Leaning into apostacy.

2) Hopefully there will always be a need to ordain more men called of God into the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

No church should remain without a true Pastor for any length of time!

In the days of the Apostle Paul there was a great need for men like Timothy and Titus to ordain such men to be sure they were made up of the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That same need remains today! Those who do not love the Lord Jesus Christ must be totally rejected. The church has no need of such men!

Every true man of God must also meet certain qualification.

Again, we will see that God created the family before He created the church and every family is to be a mini church for the family to work by God's design.

When Christian families can come together in one mind and in one accord, then those families become a church and then they have need for a Pastor.

Notice: first this man must be blameless. Blameless in his family and blameless as to his dealings with the world.

In other words, his dealings with the world should contribute to his Christian service rather than be a hindrance to him.

One who can lead his family according to the Word of God has a better chance of being able to lead a church.

A Pastor can be single but there is no proof of how they can lead a family.

Both Timothy and Titus were single as far as we can tell but they taught of the family because most all Pastors will also have a family.

Php 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Php 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

A good family man will have a faithful and loving wife who can also guide the children to be faithful and loving children.

There is no place in the ministry of the church for those who would have more than one wife at a time!

There is no place in the church for anyone seeking to become rich off the "Gospel"!

Deu 17:17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

The Christian family will seek to glorify God in everything they do!

*****Tit 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Tit 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Some words to describe every Pastor should include humility, self-sacrifice, simplicity of heart, undaunted courage, and moral faithfulness.

The true Pastor will not be Lord over his flock, but he will be the shepherd!

The true Pastor will be a good steward of God's tithes and offerings and will never seek riches for himself nor his family!

The true Pastor will seek to raise his flock above himself.

The true Pastor will see that the household of God is cared for.

On the other hand, the true Pastor will not be self-willed.

The Pastor does not own the church, the church belongs to God and His children!

The Pastor must never be self-centered, arrogant, haughty, nor self-pleasing.

The true Pastor will not easily become angry!

The true Pastor will not remain angry enough to sin at any time.

The true Pastor will not partake of alcohol of any sort.

Luk 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

This was written of John the Baptist and it is good enough for every true man of God and of course every child of God!

The true Pastor will not be a violent man!

The true Pastor will not seek riches, nor worldly possessions, but this does not mean he is not have leisure time and hobbies.

The true Pastor will be a lover of hospitality!

The true Pastor will love the children God has presented to him.

Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Drunkenness brings ruin to everyone who is touched by it and this includes the Church that Jesus Christ has built!

Maybe the most important of all, the true Pastor will hold fast to the truth of the Word of God and never seek to change anything that God has already said!

(This one thing is abused more today than all the others put together).

When you must have multiple translations to get you point across, then you are only seeking to impress your will upon God's children rather than the truth of God's Word!

We all must have control over our bodies of flesh to be legitimate Christians. This one thing is the greatest battle we face every day and it is no different for the Pastor!

The true Pastor will hold fast to the truth of the Word of God and not allow the world to dictate what God meant!

If there is one thing true above all else, it is that God says what He means, and God means what He says!

We can be sure that God's will is done upon this earth always!

1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is not only "good news" to be told to everyone it is also the Faithful Unchanging Word of God, which is sound doctrine, much more than good advice but also will also bring Holy Ghost conviction to those who hear it when it is preached!

There are many more false teachers that we realize!

*****Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Tit 1:11 "Whose mouths must be stopped", who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

Who is a false teacher? All those who reject even one truth written down in the Word of God!

There will be false teachers in and around every true church!

To be unruly means: to be insubordinate against God and His truth! The violation of just one word in God's love letter is sin!

They were religionists, which is being a bigot to Christianity.

They refuse to submit themselves to the Word of God therefore, they reject God no matter what comes out of their mouths!

They will teach things that amount to nothing toward God's salvation plan!

Their teaching is not able to overcome sin and death!

Their teaching will not bring forgiveness of sin and therefore will not bring eternal life to those who receive it!

Job 15:3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
Job 15:4 Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.
Job 15:5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.
Job 15:6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

The truth is they are all like their father Satan, the Deceiver

2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
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.

Paul used the word circumcision, meaning that many of them were Jews demanding that the Laws of Moses be followed which is a works doctrine that cannot bring salvation!

Ecc 10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Ecc 10:14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

The refused to believe that Jesus Christ died for their sin because they claim to obey all the laws, written and oral, and therefore Christ Jesus need not to have died!

These false teachers are around today in even greater numbers, at least here in America!

These false teachers rejected that it is faith and faith only that can bring us close to God, even though they claimed Abraham as their forefather.

These false teachers taught that only man can make himself acceptable to God! Jesus said this cannot be true!

Joh_15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

What else does Jesus say?

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

We find that most all these false teachers are in it for the money (filthy lucre). Does this mean we must stay away from Mega Churches?

We must stay away from every church that does not preach Jesus Christ, Him crucified, then raised from the dead, therefore salvation comes by the blood of Jesus Christ!

All false teachers must be silenced but not by physical force!

False teachers must not be allowed to turn people away from Jesus Christ!

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

One truth is that, a false teacher will have a bad reputation outside the church because everyone hates a liar!

*****Tit 1:12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
Tit 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Tit 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

It is said that Epimenides, a Cretian poet was this prophet who had written down these words "The Cretians are always liars"

Some Cretians even invented a new word "Cretize" meaning all those who played the part of a Cretian. In other words, they were liars as the prophet had said and were as an evil beast which can mean that they were very greedy.

We must understand that the speaking of lies is condemned in the Word of God!

What does God say? 1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

You see, it is the Church body that is put a stop to false teaching!

When we study the Word of God ourselves we will be able to discern the Word of God from false teaching.

Every lie causes harm to the Church because a lie is the enemy of the truth!

Lies are something that God just hates!

Pro 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

It is well past the time when Christians need to take a stand, but we certainly must sharply address false teaching in our own church!

Fables can only distract you from the truth. There are no fables in the Word of God!

Fables are attempt of some human being to place themselves on a level with the Word of God.

God's Word is settled in Heaven, nothing on earth can compare to the truth of God!

Psa_119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

We already know it is the Holy Spirit who gave us the written Word of God!

Any Jew who compares fables to the Word of God has already left his own Jewish beliefs!

Jewish fables come from a false interpretation of the Books of Moses, the Pentateuch.

We must understand the Spiritual meaning of the Word of God and apply it to our own lives!

This is why the Lord Jesus Christ challenged Jewish teachers who put man’s laws before the Word of God!

Ceremonial laws cannot save but they also lead us away from the truth. Jewish fables have nothing in them to replace "faith".

Without faith we cannot even please the Lord, who came that we be saved.

Man-made religion has no answer for the truth of God and we live in a world full of man-made religion!

Christianity is being obedient to the will of God!

Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Joh 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Joh 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Joh 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

If we are not rooted and grounded in the truth of God then, we are subject to all fables, which are only the words of some man.

As Christians we are all required to warn all others that they will be eternally separated from God unless, we know the truth and teach others the truth.

Eze 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Our faith must be in the truth of God or we will attain purity enough to live with the Lord!

*****Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

No false teacher will ever be pure enough to stand before a Holy God!

Our salvation can never be based upon lies!

When we try to make up our own rules to please God, we will always fail.

God has given us His instruction manual and we must go by the Word of God to ever have a chance to overcome God's wrath. Remember all mankind has already been sentenced to eternal death from the day we are born.

When we cannot accept that we are sinners in need of a Savior we will remain under God's curse!

Our only question should be, "how do we become pure enough to come face to face with God"?

There are no works that we can perform to overcome our sad situation!

When God our Father in Heaven accepted the work of God the Son, only then did we become a Temple for God the Holy Spirit, which means we will be pure enough to stand before our Heavenly Father.

Only the purity and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ can accomplish these things and then only when we invite Him to come into our heart and stay!

Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Jews rejected the truth of God when He first came. They will accept Him when He returns. There are no other nations that will get such a second chance as this promise to the Jews.

It is the truth of God that makes us free!

Unto them that are defiled, and unbelieving is nothing pure and they will remain caught up in their sin!

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

What is wrong with the Church today?

*****Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

We live in a world ruled by reprobates!

A false preacher is no more than a professional atheist!

Their sermon may sound great but, in their everyday life they fail to apply the Word of God to their everyday existence!

Their witness outside the church will clearly show they are no more than hypocrites!

When we deny God's authority over our lives, we too are no more than professional atheist!

Truly a hypocrite is even offensive to those who do not know the Lord.

There are always those in the Church who are hypocrites, and still lost but, God will not remove them because they may see the error of their ways in the true Christian.

The hypocrite is always a great professor of religion, but religion will only lead to your death!

Some hypocrites are truly hard to see. Even Judas spent 3 years with the Lord, but the other disciples never did accuse Judas of hypocrisy.

The Lord knew all the while, even when He chose Judas!

We deny things in 3 ways:

1) With our tongues, the words that we use.
2) With our heart, that only God can see.
3) With the life we lead, that everyone can see.

Without submitting to God and His Word , we will never know salvation.

The false teacher will corrupt the church and to be honest, corruption will always leave a foul smell!

All these things are the fulfillment of prophesy!

Mar 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Amen

Let's Pray